It’s The Little Things

Sometimes the simplest things in my life bring me the most enjoyment.  I’m a detail-oriented person (read: perfectionist) and that can be a good thing, a strength if you will, when it comes to appreciating the little things in life.  In the mornings I will often get up a half hour early to make myself a steaming hot chai tea latte in my favorite ‘Australia’ mug and sit on my deck to savor it.  I appreciate it all the more when it’s a cool morning.  I do my best to grow some food plants in pots on my deck such as tomatoes, cucumber, chives, and cilantro.  It always puts a smile on my face to step outside, pick something from the plant, and add it right into my meal.  And there is good reason to practice acknowledging and savoring the little pleasures: they are readily available to us.  If we have to wait for vacations and big events to make us happy we let too many days slip by unappreciated.  If we can learn to really tune-in to a warm drink, a great song, a scenic walk, or a loved-one’s laughter we can squeeze a little more out of the ‘ordinary’ days.

Because of the abundance of little things around us, learning to appreciate them is a good way to maintain balance.  These small pleasures can help to balance all the annoyances and inconveniences we are faced with every day.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who has allowed a whole day to be ruined by annoyances and inconveniences.  Eastern traditions teach the importance of ‘suppleness of mind’, an ability to see both the trees and the forest simultaneously.  In The Art of Happiness Dr. Howard Cutler writes

“This dual outlook… can act as a kind of triage, helping us separate what is important in life from what isn’t.”

Perspective, in other words.

By the way, if you haven’t read The Art of Happiness I highly recommend it. The subtitle is: A Handbook for Living… ‘nuff said.

Since I’ve been thinking about the simple pleasures in my life I decided to keep track this month.  Not only does this allow me to share them with you, but it serves as a kind of gratitude journal for me, which is an excellent form of self-care. (Atta-girl Lynn!)  Keeping a gratitude journal has been linked to increased levels of happiness* and is a really simple and concrete way to keep the glass half-full.

This month I’ve been getting an abundant supply of cherry tomatoes from my potted tomato plant, and I was thrilled to see my bell pepper finally ripen!

I took the extra time to create a really healthy Whole Grain and Kidney Bean Salad with cilantro and tomatoes from my deck, and made an effort to ‘press pause’ while eating it to really enjoy.

I went swimming early in the month (see previous post: Water Therapy) and took the time to look around me.  I thought the starfish were so beautiful I had to wade out of the water and grab my camera!

I went with a good friend and fellow therapist-to-be to pick wild blackberries by the sea.  Picking blackberries is a prickly endeavour but is worth it when you stop to appreciate the scenery.  And…

I took those blackberries home and made a blackberry-apple pie with a crumble topping.  So yummy – how could I not savour this simple pleasure!

On a hike I stopped to admire (and photograph) the way the arbutus trees seem to glow under their curly dry bark.  Part of enjoying this simple pleasure was to touch the tree as well – it’s as smooth as a person’s skin.

I’m truly a warm-weather person, so I have to make extra efforts to appreciate Autumn.  The wonderful pattern and colour on this little squash caught my eye.

I’m particularly pleased with this ‘little thing’ as it is literally a photo of a gutter! Beauty doesn’t get much more humble than that. But just look at the colours and textures in those leaves! I found it really striking.  (Taken with my phone so the quality is a little lower.)

Daily hassles don’t seem so bad when I am on the lookout for small wonders to include in my gratitude journal or blog entry 🙂

*Emmons and McCullough (2003)