17-year-old nancy vu makes a big thing out of “just little things”

It’s obvious from a young age that some people are destined to do big things. Seventeen-year-old Nancy Vu is one of those people. Her blog, Just Little Things, encourages readers to appreciate, well, those everyday little things that we often take for granted. She has had such an impact that, in just two years, she has attracted a loyal audience of more than half a million readers.

Nancy has now compiled her posts into an inspiring little book, Just Little Things. A Celebration of Life’s Simple Pleasures, that will make you smile every time you look at it. One of the little things I’m especially happy about is that I got to interview Nancy!

I love your blog! It’s so positive, and it reminds people there’s so much to be grateful for. Why did you decide to start it?

Thanks so much! Just Little Things was a spur-of-the-moment idea that came from observations that I’ve had throughout most of my life and my own personality. Simple pleasures are what makes me happiest. It makes my day when I hit a string of green lights in a row when driving, I do a little happy dance inside my head when I get a good score on a test I thought was ridiculously hard, and I take joy when I’m baking cookies and the whole house fills with the smell of chocolate! In the world we live in, it can be hard to notice these “little things,” so I decided one day to make a blog to highlight all of life’s simple pleasures by featuring them in a colorful list.

You’ve built a huge following already. Why do you think your message is so appealing to people?

I think people are naturally attracted to the good and happy things. Everyone has their bad days or suffer through personal hardships, whether they have to do with hard economic times, their relationships, or their health, so I think it is refreshing to see a different perspective on things. When you see all the “little things” listed all at once, you realize there’s so much in life to appreciate.

How do you come up with the items on your list?

Sometimes one just pops up in my head. Other times I think of one in the middle of the day or experience one and have to remember to write it down so I can post it up later. And I’m always saying things like, “Oh my gosh, that’s the best feeling ever” or “You know what the most satisfying feeling in the world is? It’s when…” or go “Yeeeesss!” in my head, and that’s where the ideas come from. And of course, I can’t take all the credit. Many of my readers have also contributed to my project, since they’re always suggesting new ideas.

Which are some of your personal favorites?

Waking up and realizing you have more time to sleep, finally eating the food you’ve been craving, hearing crumbs getting sucked up by the vacuum cleaner, naps, walking into a place with A/C after being outside in the heat, overhearing a person say nice things about you … the list goes on!

“Just Little Things” has actually become a big thing, and people have put together collections of your lists in very creative ways! How does that make you feel? Is that why you decided to create a book?!

I’m always beaming whenever someone sends me a photo of what they’ve done with my posts. People have covered their bedroom walls with print-outs of my posts, some have made quilts of them [Note from Lois: I am madly in love with the quilt below from Now That’s Pretty, and am going to ask my mom to follow blogger Ally Ebdon’s tutorial here to make one] and others have written them on post-it notes and stuck them in random places… it’s really neat! I never really “decided” to create a book. Some of my followers have suggested the idea to me, and I even considered self-publishing, but the idea was never carried out. My editor, Marian Lizzi, actually stumbled upon my blog one day and then asked me if I wanted to create a book with it, and that’s how it all really started! I’ve been blessed with this opportunity!

Your readers have shared ways your blog has helped them and even saved them. That’s huge. Are there any messages that have particularly touched you or really made you think about the power of what you’re doing?

I’m touched by all of the messages that I get. It’s amazing to hear that my work has made a positive difference in people’s lives or just provide them with a few minutes of happiness. A few have told me that my blog stopped them from committing suicide or self-harm or helped them with depression. Other people have told me that they shared my blog with their friends or family members and brought them the joy that they really needed. Reading these, I’m so incredibly moved and feel very humbled.

What’s next for you?

My experience with Just Little Things has inspired me to possibly do another creative project some time in the future. Stay tuned!