What is your simple pleasure?

Other than prayer or meditation, what's your "simple" daily/weekly/monthly pleasure? Sometimes, the small things can bring a smile to our face or give us a bit of peace and calm in the midst of our days.

For me, 2 things:

The smell and taste of coffee. Like most, I just really enjoy my morning cup (sometimes 2) of coffee early in the morning when everything is still and quiet. I truly appreciate the aroma and flavor that it's easy to just ENJOY it. All you coffee lovers, I know you know what I'm talkin' about.

Play. Now that I'm Grandma to a 2 1/2 year old, I play. Didn't do that too much with my own kiddos growing up because you're so busy being Super mom, but it's different now. I have time. And I'm keenly aware of that now. I can sit and play cars and watch Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 a hundred times over. So, I look forward to the next time I can babysit and kick off my shoes, dive into that toy box and play.

So what's your simplicity you look forward to and are thankful for?

Sylvia
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Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Great Question
    Hi Sylvia, my simple pleasures would have to be looking at the sunrise/sunset and the sky in general. I enjoy the sunrises the most when I can get out on the lake in my kayak. It's just so peaceful to see the morning mist rise off the lake when it's like a sheet of glass. I'm thankful to live where I do and have a lake so close to me.
    -phil
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    Simple pleasure
    Walking/sitting/lying on the cool St. Augustine under the red oak in our front yard on a summer's evening.
  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine Member Posts: 707 Member
    Angela_K said:

    Simple pleasure
    Walking/sitting/lying on the cool St. Augustine under the red oak in our front yard on a summer's evening.

    CHOCOLATE
    I have so many:
    Standing on the pier overlooking the ocean with a breeze blowing while smelling, and tasting the salt air.
    Sunrise, and sunsets
    The sound of laughter
    A childs smile
    A good book
    Getting caught in the rain.
    The beauty of flowers
    To many to list....

    My oncologist saying, "PET Scan is clear, you're good. See you in another 6 months."
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Sylvia
    For me it is just the warmth of a day’s sunshine beaming down on me. I can close my eyes and just feels it taking hold of me.

    Hondo
  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    Hondo said:

    Hi Sylvia
    For me it is just the warmth of a day’s sunshine beaming down on me. I can close my eyes and just feels it taking hold of me.

    Hondo

    simple pleasure?
    Without a doubt, French Vanilla ice cream!
    Followed by the smell of good soil and gardenias ;)
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    I'm thankful I have my own
    I'm thankful I have my own teeth-except on days I have a dentist appointment.

    Right now things are pretty dry in Texas but I can't help thinking what grand clear skies we have. I know we need the rain but what beautiful days!

    I don't have grandkids but my kids are grown so my DH and I decided it's ok to start our second childhood. My kids give us funny looks sometimes but they can't tell us to grow up cause we already did that!
  • 3Mana
    3Mana Member Posts: 811
    Life
    Sylvia,
    one of my simple pleasures is just waking up every day! I miss my husband so very much, but I'm thankful for my 3 children, their families and my 3 grandsons. And now I have one more pleasure and that is when the puppy I recently bought greets me when I come home. Kind of goofy, but that's my pleasure! Carole
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    3Mana said:

    Life
    Sylvia,
    one of my simple pleasures is just waking up every day! I miss my husband so very much, but I'm thankful for my 3 children, their families and my 3 grandsons. And now I have one more pleasure and that is when the puppy I recently bought greets me when I come home. Kind of goofy, but that's my pleasure! Carole

    Carole,
    I would venture to say pets rank high up on the pleasure scale. Studies show just having them around can benefit you physically and mentally.

    Enjoy your puppy.

    Kind Regards,

    Sylvia
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    sea60 said:

    Carole,
    I would venture to say pets rank high up on the pleasure scale. Studies show just having them around can benefit you physically and mentally.

    Enjoy your puppy.

    Kind Regards,

    Sylvia

    My second favourite thread
    Hi Sylvia,

    wanted first to say that, by starting this thread, you have become my 2nd officially favourite poster at these forums (after Re starting 'Inspirational Quotes' :)

    Yet this is a sad thread for me as much as it is a lovely and poignant one, because my cancer is one without a happy ending. My life, in one sense, is one wihout a happy ending because I have no children to whom I can bequeath my ability to love. But my life has meaning, so in the larger context, for me no life has an *un*happy ending.

    My greatest pleasures in life have been:

    The intellectual soaring that comes with exploring new ways of thinking about subjects of interest. Second only to my first love, I am a philosopher at heart, I think)

    My greatest pleasure, and my first love, is to experience and share with others with similar beliefs, my experience of a spiritual life that transcends everything else.

    They are my greatest loves. As for simple pleasures..

    the sensual taste of baked egg custard
    dusk
    stormy weather
    a smile
    empathy seen betweeen anyone

    .. and much more ..

    AussieMaddie
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613

    My second favourite thread
    Hi Sylvia,

    wanted first to say that, by starting this thread, you have become my 2nd officially favourite poster at these forums (after Re starting 'Inspirational Quotes' :)

    Yet this is a sad thread for me as much as it is a lovely and poignant one, because my cancer is one without a happy ending. My life, in one sense, is one wihout a happy ending because I have no children to whom I can bequeath my ability to love. But my life has meaning, so in the larger context, for me no life has an *un*happy ending.

    My greatest pleasures in life have been:

    The intellectual soaring that comes with exploring new ways of thinking about subjects of interest. Second only to my first love, I am a philosopher at heart, I think)

    My greatest pleasure, and my first love, is to experience and share with others with similar beliefs, my experience of a spiritual life that transcends everything else.

    They are my greatest loves. As for simple pleasures..

    the sensual taste of baked egg custard
    dusk
    stormy weather
    a smile
    empathy seen betweeen anyone

    .. and much more ..

    AussieMaddie

    Thanks Aussie!
    We focus on all that's going on in our lives that it's easy to take for granted the simple, little things that add some pleasure in our lives. I think now for me, I'm more "aware" of the joy and pleasure when I'm actually experiencing it. And the kick is, there are SO many simple pleasures once you make yourself aware of them.

    Now that you mentioned stormy weather, I LOVE the few minutes before a storm when you can smell the rain coming (although, I haven't had the expereince of that pleasure in a while as Texas is in a drought). So, I'll be really looking forward to that one!

    Hey Marcia, I just have this hunch that chocolate is one of yours! :P


    Happy 4th everyone.
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    sea60 said:

    Thanks Aussie!
    We focus on all that's going on in our lives that it's easy to take for granted the simple, little things that add some pleasure in our lives. I think now for me, I'm more "aware" of the joy and pleasure when I'm actually experiencing it. And the kick is, there are SO many simple pleasures once you make yourself aware of them.

    Now that you mentioned stormy weather, I LOVE the few minutes before a storm when you can smell the rain coming (although, I haven't had the expereince of that pleasure in a while as Texas is in a drought). So, I'll be really looking forward to that one!

    Hey Marcia, I just have this hunch that chocolate is one of yours! :P


    Happy 4th everyone.

    Sea said "I LOVE the few
    Sea said "I LOVE the few minutes before a storm when you can smell the rain coming"
    Mmm.. :)

    "I haven't had the expereince of that pleasure in a while as Texas is in a drought"
    I'm so sorry for that.

    The beauty of living in Melbourne in Australia is that the weather changes so often. That doesn't suit everyone, but it suits me because I know that, no matter how cold or hot or rainy it is on one day, it will improve over the next few days.

    Take care,

    AussieMaddie
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    PhillieG said:

    Great Question
    Hi Sylvia, my simple pleasures would have to be looking at the sunrise/sunset and the sky in general. I enjoy the sunrises the most when I can get out on the lake in my kayak. It's just so peaceful to see the morning mist rise off the lake when it's like a sheet of glass. I'm thankful to live where I do and have a lake so close to me.
    -phil

    Ditto Phil
    I was born on the prairies of Canada with only the occasional river and lake but had a weird pull to the water, as many do, and went to live on both coasts on one time or another throughout my lifetime but never actually lived right on the water. Til now.

    I finally found my dream home in the form of a nice little apartment, easy to manage for me, right on the river right in the city. What a find this was. As I sit here at sunrise, just past really, you can hear the birds morning songs and no traffic is heard on this Sunday. The river is wide and turns from my view and there are rapids visible plus a yacht club way off in the distance so little white sails are seen just before sunset in the summer. I hear that in the winter you can watch people ice fishing out there as well, just moved here a couple of months ago.

    When I look out my balcony doors it's just like being at the lake, I can't believe I am in a city. The river is just across the road. It's one of my pleasures for sure.

    The other one is a toss up between my two cats and the first sip of coffee in the morning. My elderly cat has just had what looks like 2 strokes, the Vet thinks it may well be a brain tumor causing them, and has just lost most of her hearing and most of her balance. God gave her life so it's not up to me to call her home and except for her wobbly walk she is as healthy as a kitten so I am nurse for the duration of her life. She gives me such pleasure, her whole 14 years with me and I swear she has saved my life many times over by destressing me from all my physical challenges. Time for me to give back to her. Just watching how she adapts to her disability so quickly is just so amazing, I have learned so much about both animals and humans through watching her struggle to conquer her new disability. Lessons to be learned from her for sure. The Vet wanted me to put her down last Friday but she wasn't ready to go at all and after Thursday she rallied and is actually walking on her own where 3 days ago I had to carry her everywhere. Listen to your instincts was that lesson.

    Anywho I digressed, as usual, lol, but thought it an important message for anyone needing to hear it perhaps. And some people think they are 'just cats'. Wow, what people are missing if they don't stop to understand and observe.

    Blessings,

    Bluerose
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    And . . .
    Drinking really good coffee on my back patio on an early Sunday morning, while reading what's left our quickly dwindling local newspaper.

    And . . .

    Smiling at the chaos that a house full of boys and one farmer brings on any given sweltering West Texas day.
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    Doing it right now
    • sitting on our west facing porch watching the wyoming rocky mtns just a few miles away– though soon the heat will drive me inside...
    • watching my border collie move through her day, or right now sleep through her day
    • riding my horses

    • yes, that first cup of coffee in the cool morning air on the porch

    • hearing wind in the trees, especially pine trees in the mtns
    • fly fishing for trout
    • watching clouds
    • watching the family pf geese, 5 little ones born this season on our pond, waddle through the lower fields in the morning and evening.
    • hanging with good friends

    ah, so many simple pleasures!

    thanks for this thread (added smiles to my day!)

    all the best, Leslie
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    lesvanb said:

    Doing it right now
    • sitting on our west facing porch watching the wyoming rocky mtns just a few miles away– though soon the heat will drive me inside...
    • watching my border collie move through her day, or right now sleep through her day
    • riding my horses

    • yes, that first cup of coffee in the cool morning air on the porch

    • hearing wind in the trees, especially pine trees in the mtns
    • fly fishing for trout
    • watching clouds
    • watching the family pf geese, 5 little ones born this season on our pond, waddle through the lower fields in the morning and evening.
    • hanging with good friends

    ah, so many simple pleasures!

    thanks for this thread (added smiles to my day!)

    all the best, Leslie

    Yes, great thread!
    I've already given my opinion on that matter to Sea, my second favourites thread after "Inspirational Quotes".

    Its this kind of remembrance that makes life seems eternal to me :)

    AussieMaddie
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    lesvanb said:

    Doing it right now
    • sitting on our west facing porch watching the wyoming rocky mtns just a few miles away– though soon the heat will drive me inside...
    • watching my border collie move through her day, or right now sleep through her day
    • riding my horses

    • yes, that first cup of coffee in the cool morning air on the porch

    • hearing wind in the trees, especially pine trees in the mtns
    • fly fishing for trout
    • watching clouds
    • watching the family pf geese, 5 little ones born this season on our pond, waddle through the lower fields in the morning and evening.
    • hanging with good friends

    ah, so many simple pleasures!

    thanks for this thread (added smiles to my day!)

    all the best, Leslie

    And. . .
    Painting my toenails lime green.
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    Angela_K said:

    And. . .
    Painting my toenails lime green.

    You're not old but...
    Your words remind me of a great poem about living old gloriously. I'll quote it under Poems thread in here and also on Seniors board, called "I shall wear purple"

    AussieMaddie
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member

    You're not old but...
    Your words remind me of a great poem about living old gloriously. I'll quote it under Poems thread in here and also on Seniors board, called "I shall wear purple"

    AussieMaddie

    pleasure
    I think more then anything that I really enjoy, it is just being at home with my wife caregiver and best friend. It is a small thing but brings great pleasure to me being with her even after 37 years.

    Hondo
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    Hondo said:

    pleasure
    I think more then anything that I really enjoy, it is just being at home with my wife caregiver and best friend. It is a small thing but brings great pleasure to me being with her even after 37 years.

    Hondo

    Wow, 37 years
    Big congrats to you. That IS a wonderful pleasure.

    Blessings,

    Sylvia
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    sea60 said:

    Wow, 37 years
    Big congrats to you. That IS a wonderful pleasure.

    Blessings,

    Sylvia

    Hi Sylvia
    Im glad to see

    Hi Sylvia
    Im glad to see some familiar faces in here. I pop in out of this site but never post. I just visit when i need a little spiritual uplift, like now.
    Great thread so i had to respond...
    I dream of being back on that tropical island laying on the beach, smelling the salt water with the sun and the wind on my face, sand in my toes and then just sitting there taking in the awesome ocean view!
    Then theres my kids, i love spending time with them since they are grown and out of the house now. When im down they try and cheer me up...like a few days ago my baby girl whos 21 now took me out and we just hit random stores around where i live and we ended up at a halloween costume store. We had so much fun tryin on all different costumes and wigs ect...that the store people and other customers were even laughing at us...well it did the trick, she cheered me up! I look forward to days like that with them and cherish thoughs memories.