Lifestyle : Simple Pleasures
I saw a T-shirt with the saying “the best things in life are free” written on it. Is there any such thing as ‘free?’ With the cost of living rising each day and money on our minds, it is difficult to believe that there is any such thing as ‘free.’
Thinking about how so many of us lead very busy lives these days, it struck me that we need to constantly stop and remind ourselves of what the simple pleasures of life are and even more importantly resolve to enjoy them.
What do you do just for the pleasure of it? For many of us, the word pleasure has become synonymous with entertainment.
We live in an era where there is an addiction to being entertained, as opposed to entertaining and enjoying oneself.
By the way, the Oxford dictionary defines pleasure as “a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment” and simply, “easily understood or done, presenting no difficulty.” Sometimes, it’s the simple (or little) things that give us a boost of energy and cheer.
Without a tremendous budget and a bit of creativity and time, simple pleasures are abundant and ready to be enjoyed.
If you are interested, here are a few suggestions:
• A cup of tea — Studies show that the components found in such a small little teabag can do wonders for your health. Tea is a remedy for everything from stress to the common cold, to depression. There are countless types of teas out there and whether you are having trouble sleeping, need a boost of energy, or just want to relax, there is something for you.
The great thing about drinking a cup of tea is that it is a fast, easy and healthy way to unwind.
• An hour of reading — I don’t know about you, but the books I want to read, the magazines I love to get lost in and my favourite sections of the newspaper tend to pile up when my schedule gets far too busy just waiting to be read.
So when I can find an afternoon or a few hours of free time, I use it for reading. Reading makes the time fly by and it is also a best way to spend a few hours that will inform, entertain and revitalise you.
• Humour — Humour is an important part of daily life. There is nothing that can bring on a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment than laughter.
Just for the fun of it, spend time with friends and family sharing jokes. Laughter makes you feel good and the good feeling you get after the laughter subsides, lingers on for a while.
What brings you a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment that is simple? Maybe it’s spending time with people you love, playing with your children, going for an early morning jog, playing ludo, a good chat with a friend, listening to music, sitting outside on a cool day sipping a cold drink, looking through old photos or even dancing in front of your mirror.
Life is filled with many things that don’t cost money (or not much, anyway).
I’ve just described a mere fraction of some of the things I do to make my days more pleasant. They are not big things but they are tremendously satisfying. Think about the many things that bring a smile to your face.
There is some truth in the saying “the best things in life are free” and undoubtedly, the examples I have given prove that statement to be true.
The more you enjoy the simple pleasures in life that don’t cost anything, the easier it is to get yourself out of the consumer mindset that pleasure is only derived from spending money.
Today, I invite you to take a look around and look with fresh eyes at everything.
I know it’s hard to take the many responsibilities you have out of your mind, to ignore the filth as you drive around, the traffic and economic hardship, but if you focus on that, you will only end up frustrated and depressed.
As for me, I have resolved to enjoy the simple pleasures of life this weekend starting with thanking God for another day, making myself a cup of tea, listening to music and radio, reading the newspaper and watching the sunset as the day comes to an end.
Life is about moments, memories and finding them in everyday life. You just need to be receptive and aware of it. If we can just pause for a minute, you will find that every day is a special occasion. Be deliberate in the choices you make on a daily basis and remember that it’s your life.
To get away from the humdrum life, stop and enjoy the simple pleasures. It is essential to your well-being and happiness.
