25 Simple Pleasures

Life is short.  We all spend far too much time worrying about taxes and weather and wrinkles.  And what possible purpose does all of this worrying serve? Is there a special cloud in heaven reserved for those who never looked their age, always had an umbrella on hand, and died with Revenue Canada owing them money?  I think not.

Yes… dishes must be washed and bills must be paid.  But perhaps it would be okay to wash those dishes and pay those bills just a little later, after enjoying the pleasure of a hot cup of tea and a good book.

It took me awhile to get around to my current way of thinking.  I spent much of my twenties trying to “get ahead” and most of my thirties trying to “hold it all together”.  But somewhere in my fourties I started to question what I was trying to get ahead of and what might happen if I just let go of all those things I was holding together.  The answer was surprising… nothing changed.  I just stopped having acid reflux and started laughing a bit more.  Now, at fifty, I can honestly say that I find at least five moments of genuine joy in every day (I know this because I keep a very goofy journal beside my bed and every night I record “5 Good Things About My Day”). 

My philosophy is simple.  Do what you have to do and worry about the things that are worth worrying about, but let the rest go.  Because life is too short NOT to:

1. Put real butter on your popcorn
2. Drink good wine
3. Binge watch Faulty Towers at least once a year
4. Always wear comfortable underwear
5. Smile at little kids in the grocery store
6. Order dessert
7. Own at least one pair of real leather boots
8. Go to every event you are invited to
9. Splash in puddles
10. Use bubble bath
11. Watch parades
12. Hold a baby whenever possible
13. Paint your toenails bright red (or pink or purple!)
14. Own a pet
15. Get a DVR so you can fast forward through commercials (life is too short to watch commercials)
16. Read on the toilet 
17. Go for a daily walk
18. Dance in your kitchen
19. Bake cookies
20. Give money to the homeless guy in front of the liquor store (and if you don’t have money, at least smile and say hello to him)
21. Hug your friends and family
22. Sing in the shower
23. Eat bread and pasta
24. Wear fuzzy socks
25. Buy yourself flowers

This list is by no means inclusive.  I bet every person who reads this blog post can think of at least a few more things that could be added.  And that’s the trick really… just spending more time thinking about the little joys of life, because they are out there… even on the wrinkled-rainy-taxes due days!

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