Maybe it’s the change of seasons, maybe it’s my (grr) teenager or maybe I’m just old. Whatever the reason I’ve had comfort on my mind lately. I’ve been thinking about
Simple Pleasures
We all have things that make us feel happy even if there are wolves howling at the door and teenagers baying at the fridge. Little rituals or routines or even habits that lift the spirit and improve the mood. For this list let’s talk about the simple ones. You don’t have to go to some exotic island to feel good. (Although I wouldn’t shake a stick at it). You just have to know what you like.
#1. Hot beverages. Mostly I’m a coffee drinker, but I consume my sha
re of hot tea as well. I’m not fit for human company until I’ve had at least one cup of coffee in the morning. Throw in a little milk, bypass the sugar – I’m a happy camper. For some reason that I’ve never been able to figure out, in the Fall I like flavored coffees or creamers, although the rest of the year I avoid them like the plague. Go figure.
However, I really only drink coffee in the morning, so from then on it’s tea for me. Sometimes I make cardamom tea because it reminds me of my dad, but mostly I just drink black tea with milk and sugar. Or Earl Grey or Constant Comment, both of which I love. When I was sick when I was little my mom would make me Constant Comment and float orange slices in it. Aaahhh….
On days I work I have my lucky socks. They’re plain old white athletic socks from Costco but they make me wiggle my toes with happiness all day. They are the best athletic socks ever. I always wear my battered black Crocs at work and the combination of squishy socks and comfy crocs rocks.
My world anyway.
#3. A Clean House. At heart I’m really a tidy, organized
person. I just happen to live in a home full of rabid sloths. I love a clean house. I don’t even mind doing the cleaning, to tell the truth. What demoralizes me is how fast all my work gets undone. Between the kids and the dogs, I don’t have a chance.
This starts a vicious cycle. I get disgusted because the house is a sty, so I stop even trying to keep up with it. On one hand this eliminates the problem of having my work trashed, but then eventually I turn into bitch woman because I hate living in a filthy house. Ultimately one day I get so angry that I go on a furious cleaning spree and I feel good. Until it gets destroyed again.
But it sure does feel good while it lasts.
Tag. You’re It.
23 comments:
I like all of yours, but since I don't want to repeat those I'll come up with three different simple pleasures.
1. Warm homemade bread.
2. Sitting in my bed. I love my bed.
3. A hot shower.
Great topic, makes me think about winding down the week and relaxing.
1. A nice long soak in a tub chock full of almost hot water can make me feel better no matter what.
2. Steaming blackberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla on top.
3. Baking. It doesn't matter what, really, just the act of baking something makes me feel better. I suppose it helps that I get to eat something delicious, too.
I love all of those too.
Let's see,
I like a glass of wine.
A good soak in the spa especially in winter.
The wonderful feeling I have after the cleaing lady is done,
especially when it's bunco night.
I really needed to think about relaxing after the week I've had.
I was right there with you until the third one. Not that I don't like a nice clean house, it's just that I share mine with seven critters so it's not really an option.
I got two outta the three. I'm not a hot drinks gal except when I'm sick, but the other two? Me to a t!
I second the motion, although kaycie has a compelling list as well.
So as not to duplicate...
1. clean sheets
2. falling asleep to the ocean
3. hugs for no reason
totally can relate to 2 and 3...i don't do coffee, but i think i am addicted to coca cola. wish i wasn't...i think it's contributing to my swelling and fatness(on top of being hypothyroid) lol
1. Tea. Oh yes. Strong, dark Irish tea with two spoons of Splenda and milk. No flavored coffee creamer will every pass these lips.
2. Ice cream. Vanilla, peach, butter pecan. And Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee, which I would eat as a steady diet but my arteries would clog in 10 days.
3. Naps. Any time. Any place. With or without cat. But definitely with comfy blanket.
And there were an awful lot of good ones out there that I also like. But I could only pick three because it's Thursday. How about 15 for Friday?
snuggling into bed on a cold night (with warm husband. Otherwise take hot water bottle. Or both).
That first glass of wine on one of those days - or any day, come to that.
Delving into a great book.
Singing a song that gives you goose bumps.
Wow, I'd have to go on a cleaning week to get my house clean. A spree just doesn't do it. I still turn into the bitch when I try, though. It's nice knowing I can scare people.
My three simple pleasures:
1. Holding my daughter while she sleeps.
2. Sitting on my front step on a sunny day, watching everything and nothing.
3. Lying in bed alone, watching favorite episodes of favorite TV shows.
1. Homemade macaroni and cheese, with the crispy breadcrumbs on top.
2. Foot rubs from my husband.
3. A nice hot cup of tea, made in the pot, with loose tea, not bags.
I think we may be having mac and cheese tonight!
don`t want to repeat,but still:-)
1. watching my son sleep
2.waking up to find a lovely man ( mine:o) )smiling at me
3. unexpected laughter
Okay, here I go:
1. A nice cup of dark roasted Mocca Senseo.
2. The first cigarette of the day.
3. A back rub from my husband (I don't get enough of these).
4. A really good walk with the dog when it is a little bit cold outside.
5. Irish Breakfast tea with sugar in it.
6. Taking off my shoes when I get home.
1. Going to restaurants with my children, which we've done since they were babies, and marvelling at their choices.
2. Marmite on hot, buttered toast. (I'm salivating just writing this!)
3. Cycling in the Bois de Vincennes.
4. A glass or three of wine at the end of day.
Oh, that's four pleasures but I guess I'm greedy.
1) A drop of dew at the edge of a petal.
2) In the morning, finding a star that fell during the night In my garden.
3) Collecting smiles on the face of strangers when I walk on a busy boulevard.
4) Drinking ormus.
wwabbSo many of my favorites have been listed already but here are a few more...
Being wrapped in a snug blanket with the sound of rain outside my window.
The smell of lavender on sheets and towels.
A fire in the fireplace on a chilly day--with a pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove.
An hour, day or week with nothing to do but read.
1. Laughter.
2. Rainbows.
3. Finishing something I started.
OK, here are mine:
1. Homemade mashed potatoes as made by me.
2. A glass of red wine on a cold night, otherwise lots of white.
3. Coffee first thing in the morning (like you, I'm not human till I have one).
And an extra 4: My furry slippers.
1. Hot Buttered Crumpets.
2. My waterbed
3. Frothy Cappucino
1. Fountain drinks
2. With you on the comfy, thick socks, accompanied by large, loose sweat pants
3. Reading the newspaper in bed
I love all these answers! You've mentioned things I hadn't even thought of. Maybe we do need a Friday fifteen. Or fifty. Hmmm....
Welcome to Pam and all the anonymous commenters.
Oh, I do so love comments!
Sigh. I am so with you on the house cleaning thing. I used to get mad and now I just shake my head and count to 1000. A good friend (and, coincidentally, an ER nurse) used to forbid anyone but her to use a bathroom for 24 hours after she'd cleaned it. (Yes, the house had more than one bathroom.) She's my hero.
Ohhh I feel all warm and cosy reading those.
Here are mine.
1. Clean sheets on my bed especially when I've just shaved my legs. They feel so clean and smooth.
2. Winter nights when it's freezing outside and I'm sat inside with my family wearing big socks and drinking hot chocolate or red wine. (Ohhh I'm such a cheat.)
3. Peeping at Miss E and M when they're fast asleep. They look so cute and it's so nice to tuck them in and leave them all safe and warm and ready for dreams.
Post a Comment