"The world is too much with us."
William Wordsworth wrote that. It was true for him in the early 1800s, and it is true 200 years later. There is much about which to despair. There are many reasons to feel overwhelmed. And, yet, there is much joy to be found when we turn our focus to simple pleasures.
The other day, I was hanging sheets on my clothesline, and I found myself humming, "Heaven, I'm in heaven . . .." No, I wasn't thinking about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing cheek-to-cheek. I was just happy, standing there with the breeze in my face and the knowledge that I would sleep between fresh sheets that night.
Here are some more of the simple pleasures that lift my spirits. I refuse to allow the state of the world to rob me of their charms.
The first cup of tea in the morning
The feel of autumn in the air
The return of birdsong at the end of winter
The slant of evening light
The feel of a grandchild's cheek
The smell of the earth after rain
A hard rain after a long dry spell
Sunshine after a long wet spell
Green trees against a blue sky
The feel of earth in my hands
Laughing so hard that I snort
Curling up with a book
A hot bath
A phone call or message from an old friend
A walk with a friend
Embracing a loved one
Chocolate -- with or without any of the above
Happily, except for the tea and chocolate, everything I have listed is free. What are your simple pleasures? Please share them in the comments.
