This past weekend I went to one of my favorite places, a nature reserve where birds of prey are kept safe until they can be returned to their native environments. The kids and I then walked the surrounding trails for over an hour. What made the day even better?

The little things.

Before we headed out on the trails, we checked in with the ranger who challenged us to find as many birds' nests as we could. This small detail made a big difference in our motivation. We were on a mission from that point on. We also purchased a small toy for my son. As she gave him his change, she mentioned that one of the coins was new, "a quarter from Alaska", she said. I inspected the coin. Small detail #2.

Upon our return, we were happy to find out that our 32 birds' nests set a new world record- the ranger had only been able to find 17 during her recent hike. The kids were elated.

It's amazing how something as small as birds' nests or an Alaskan coin can make an everyday experience something special. Here are some things you can do this week to turn the mundane into something more meaningful:

Change your voice message.

Update your email signature.

Clean out your car.

Clean off your desk before you leave at the end of the day.

Declare a war on clutter in your home.

Write a note to someone just to tell them you care.

Call an old friend out of the blue.

Buy a gift for someone before the last minute.

Keep your to-do list small.

Use your calendar rather than admire it.

*Photo by law kevin