Skip to main content

What is The Big and The Small?

Submitted by Joel on Mon, 01/02/2017 - 15:33

The Big and The Small is about appreciating all joys in life, both big and small. This can be operationalized by not just seeking adventure in faraway lands, but also in your backyard. On top of this, when you are doing something big, like visiting Paris, don't just look for a visit to the Eiffel Tower, but also the local bakery. 

I first considered the idea of looking for joy in both the big and small of life when studying the concept of limits and infinity in calculus. As numbers keep getting larger and larger, you get one concept of infinity. But there are also infinite numbers between 0 and 1 (like 1/2 and 1/3 and 1/1000, etc). This was an amazing discovery for my young brain! I realized that while it's exciting to go have a huge adventure, it's also pretty incredible to explore what's right around the corner. There's 'infinity' EVERYWHERE!

How Has This Impacted My Life?
For me, it's all about appreciation. Yes, going to an event like the Olympics or Super Bowl would be unforgettable, but you never know when the local high school is going to have an amazing game or if you're watching a future Super Bowl MVP. Personally, I enjoy going for walks in a beautiful area. It could be along the waterfront or through a cute area of town, but I really enjoy seeing what that place has to offer. Hiking in the mountains in Colorado is gorgeous, but walking along the river in small-town Iowa can be just as breathtaking. 

As often as we can, Bethany and I drive around and discover cool parks or landmarks in the small towns around us. We find historical bridges and old cemeteries and shops that sell stuff we didn't even know existed! But that doesn't mean that skiing in the Rocky Mountains wasn't a great experience, too. Each place has something unique and valuable, it just takes a little effort to explore. 

Here at The Big and The Small, we're trying to highlight all of what this awesome world has to offer. We review the big blockbuster movies along with small indie films. We give travel advice about small places we've been next to the big cities and events we attend. If there's a gem near you or that you've heard about, let us know! We'd love to explore it and let you know what we liked most!