Simple everyday pleasures have far more impact than you might think.
Years ago, I picked up this little book at an Eddie Bauer store called “Balance – A Guide to Life’s Forgotten Pleasures.”
Written by Bob Kerstetter and Steve Stone, it was all of a hundred pages including the front and back cover, and averaged only ten or fifteen words per page with some simple line drawings.
That little five or six-inch square book, dreaming of becoming a real book someday, was golden… filled with simple treasures like… how to take a nap, how to pretend you can fly, even how to skinny dip.
It came with no guarantees… “won’t change your life… won’t solve any of your deep-rooted psychological problems… won’t make you rich. And it definitely won’t make you sexy.”
Hold that thought for a moment because there’s more to it…
You might remember Hugh MacLeod’s blog on gapingvoid.com is one of my favorites. I think it’s because Hugh and his team have an uncanny ability to sort through the noise and find meaning in often overlooked places.
In this gapingvoid post, they remind us that “living is just fine.”
Okay, maybe. It’s just getting harder to remember that, especially after the last couple of news days (which could be any couple of news days).
And “Sometimes life is just about happily managing the here and now.” And… “Sometimes just being alive and yes, living is just fine.”
Some people are perfectly happy trundling along at the phone company, raising their kids and going fishing on the weekends.”
—gapingvoid
That’s kind of what that little book I mentioned above is all about. The little things that can make us all at least ten to twenty percent happier (my words) if we even try only a little bit.
At the risk of letting this become a promo post for gapingvoid (which it’s not), I’m going to add another snippet—this one from a different one of their posts…
Turns out it isn’t the shiny objects that make us happy in the long run, but the normal, everyday stuff. A good night’s sleep. The first cup of coffee in the morning. Flying a kite in the park with the kids. A nice glass of whiskey in front of a warm fire.”
What makes you happy in the long run? It’s a good question and also happens to be the post’s title. (You can check it out here)
The answer may be easier than we’re trying to make it.
It starts to get messed up when we start attaching conditions to the pursuit of our happiness.
I can be happy when I get that promotion.
I can be happy when we move into that new house.
I’ll be happy when I get my business up and running.
It goes on… and never ends… because desire always falls short of that next… well, desire.
We start spending all our time and effort in pursuing things that we think will reward us with happiness when all along it’s the things we’re cutting out that hold the true prize.
So, when we remember to keep a place in our world for the little things, the simpler pleasures, the moments of joy… it all begins to ease up.
Try to keep in mind it’s a journey we’re on, it’s an ongoing process… it’s a work in progress.
And most important, it’s not a place or time you arrive somewhere at some point.
So, let yourself enjoy the journey. Work out the kinks with whatever works for you. And trust yourself enough to know that you just need to keep moving forward because when it comes to what’s behind… well, you’ve already been there.
Keep looking forward, do what works for you, and say no to the rest.
Living is just fine.
Be untucked.
p.s. When was the last time you ran through a sprinkler?
p.p.s. If you know someone who might need to be reminded to enjoy the small stuff, go ahead and share this post with them. I think they’ll appreciate it.
Copyright © 2024 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved – 98% AI free
Leave a Reply