SIMPLE PLEASURES

Elaine's Coffee Call, Chicago, IL

           

Once I had posted my essay on The Indulgence of a Rainy Morning, it occurred to me that I had written other posts on the simple pleasures of life.  So, I searched my blog on observations and highlighted others that involved simple pleasures.  Then I just finished converting these posts into both an electronic and bound book on the subject.

Psychology Today defines simple pleasures as “experiences that are brief, positive, emerge in everyday settings, and are accessible to most people at little or no cost. They are highly personal, meaning what is a simple pleasure for you may not be a simple pleasure for others.”  The researchers found that folks who have a better awareness of these moments are able to make steady progress on their daily goals by checkmating daily hassles with these positive, uplifting feelings.

It's not always the big changes in life such as a new house or car that have a positive impact on our lives.  Simple pleasures give us the happiness, energy and perspective we need to carry on and accomplish the difficult but important issues in life.  

It turns out to be a neat exercise for everyone—try it!

Here’s a short list representing some of the simple pleasure posts in my blog:

·          Rainy mornings

·         A child’s view of the world

·         Mountain vistas and nature sounds

·         Walking the beach

·         A full moonrise

·         Sacred quiet places

·         Colorful tree cathedrals

·         People watching

·         Walking a dog

·         Morning coffee

·         Catching fireflies

·         Playing catch

·         Watching the season’s change

·         Sitting on a porch with friends and relatives

·         Viewing and smelling a flower bloom