“The simplest pleasures are sometimes the most extraordinary.” – Edgar Allan Poe

Yesterday I talked about life’s rainbows; the significant blessings in our lives that help us to get through hard times. Most of us are aware of these boons because they are take up a lot of physical, and emotional, space in our lives. These are our loved ones, the homes that give us sanctuary, the jobs that give us security and satisfaction.

  What we perhaps don’t realize is that our lives are also full of small moments that, in their own unique way, have a great transformative power of their own. They too can make life sweeter and richer. 

   Here are two short poems that beautifully explore this idea. 

THE QUIET THINGS

I have learned to love the quiet things—

the hush of morning light, the way a book holds its breath between pages,

the silence after a storm.

It is in these moments

I find myself again—

not in the noise of the world, but in the spaces it forgets to fill.

- K. Ashley

~

A man is rich, whose heart is light,

Whose pleasures are simple, and his joys in sight, 

He finds delight, in nature's gentle breeze, 

And sunshine warms his soul, with effortless ease.

His wealth is measured, not in gold or might, 

But in the beauty, of a peaceful night, 

A walk in the woods, a book by the fire, 

These are the treasures, that his heart desires.

He is the richest, who can find delight, 

In the smallest pleasures, that life brings to sight, 

A child's laughter, a friend's warm embrace, 

These are the riches, that fill his heart with grace.

So let us not be fooled, by wealth's disguise, 

For true richness lies, in a heart that's wise, 

That finds joy in the simple things, 

And treasures love, above all earthly rings.

- Unknown

Because of illness I have been forced to spend a lot of time at home in my own company, and I have had to set aside my go, go, go life and slow down. Though this has been hard to bear at times, I have learned that mundane, every day, seemingly commonplace experiences and doings can give me pleasure if I stop thinking of them as chores and instead think of them as gifts. It turns out that many of the things that we do, or experience, every day or every week, without thinking, have something to offer us if we take the time to fully engage with them. 

   For example can planning the menu for the coming week be a pleasant experience and not just a chore? I have discovered that when I slow down so that I absorb the process, and think about what I am doing, this once tiresome task becomes an altogether different animal. Now I seek out new recipes to try, source the fixings that I need, and try new-to-me ingredients to experiment with. Now, when I cook a meal, I prep my ingredients with care in advance and then enjoy seeing, smelling, and tasting as the recipe unfolds and the dish is created.  

   Can cleaning a house make me feel ‘happy?’ Yes, it can because I can see the fruits of my labors, and take pride in my home looking at its best. The same can be said for garden chores like weeding and pruning. In fact so many chores become elevated when you don’t rush through them and notice how the process makes you feel. You discover small contentments that you didn’t even know were there.

   Then there are the things that take place around us, or that we encounter, without even noticing them. What are these simple joys that we should be taking the time to acknowledge and therefore fully appreciate? Here are a few that I have ‘found’ over the last few years:

The first rains of fall that wash away the dust and tiring heat of summer.

A snowfall that transforms the landscape, bringing beauty and quiet into the world  

My husband’s ‘painful,’ and yet funny, word puns. 

A book I wish would never end.

Fresh sheets that are smooth and sweet smelling.

The first sip of a really good cup of coffee.

The smell that the land breathes out after there has been a rain shower.

A kind word or compliment from a stranger.

Having a video call with my sweet daughter.

Getting a book from the library that I’ve been waiting for. 

Encountering a gorgeous/delicious/toe curling/funny/perfectly written piece of writing.

Hearing rain tapping on the windows and roof.

Opening up the doors and windows to welcome fresh air into the house.   

Meeting someone’s cat during my walks who comes over to me to say hello.

Seeing roots growing from one of my plant cuttings.

Finding a pretty volunteer shrub or tree growing in my garden that the wind or wildlife gifted me.

Lazy Sunday mornings spent wearing cozy clothes, sipping a hot drink, and eating a baked treat.

Sitting by a roaring fire with a stack of books to hand.

Turning on a classical music playlist on Spotify and discovering anew how many of the pieces are well known old friends that I can sing along with. Thank you Dad, for sharing your love of classical music with me.

Fixing something that is broken or malfunctioning in the house.

Using a gift that someone dear to me gave me.

Seeing my dogs’ delight when they give them a chewy treat.

So, dear friends, I invite you to find the simple things in your life that can make your world brighter and your heart lighter. Their combined effect on your outlook on life can be far more profound than you would expect.

Art by Gabel Karsten