I know
you don’t always understand,
but let me point to the first
wet drops landing on the stones,
the noise like fingers drumming
the skin. I can’t help it. I will
never get over making everything
such a big deal.

From Ada Limon’s “The Last Thing“

I make things a big deal. Over and over again, I pay attention and notice and reflect. Let me explain. I believe our capacity to experience awe is holy. I believe our ability to feel joy is a blessing. I believe our ability to love is divine. I believe making a big deal and taking up oxygen and space and time is essential. I believe making a bid deal is living exactly they way we are supposed to live — with intention, purpose, integrity, honesty, and love. Within all that, even the smallest of deals are big deals.

I have a few words to say to those who don’t believe in making big deals. I hear your concern that if everything is a big deal then nothing is a big deal. Big deals can stand in the way of growth and healing. Waiting for the big deal might diminish the importance of small, extraordinary, truly beautiful small deal.

Big deals are a lot about living big. Simply understood, I believe a false binary exists between those who argue against big and those who live big. To me, living big is where we taste life’s sweetness. Living big is where we are driven by passion and knowing rather than doubt and fear. Living big is where we create and build up rather than destroy or tear down. Living big is where we see, hear, and feel. Living big is where we are our best selves. Our best self may be quiet or loud, global or individual, public or private, indoors or outdoors, big or small. It does not matter. That is the last thing.