There is a lot to be said for the simple pleasures in life. There are some things that just say comfort and make life better. Some things get passed down between generations. And while some of those simple joys change over the years, not all of them do.
When I was growing up, one of the simple pleasures for me and my mom was tea. I don't mean a formal social occasion but the sharing of hot tea in the evenings. When I was small and not feeling well, my mom would bring me tea and toast. When I was a teenager, and my mom was running her own business, there was great comfort in sharing a cup of chamomile tea in the evening. I still enjoy tea from time to time, although admittedly not as much as Mom does. But there are days when a cup of tea warms the body and makes everything better.
Another simple joy is a truly comfortable bed. I must confess this was not always a pleasure for me. Isn't it funny how when we are children we never want to go to bed, for fear that we will miss something fun? Then as adults, we figure out that the rest and renewal that comes from a good sleep is priceless. But there is so much going on, we often deprive ourselves of this, at least to some degree. Now I am not saying that one should spend a fortune on a bed, or anything like that. But as the saying goes, you can't run a machine on an empty battery. So the self-care of getting enough rest in a truly comfy bed is another great joy.
One of my favorite simple pleasures is family drives. It's not going on a specific mission, just getting out to see fall colors or holiday lights. As I recall, my dad used to take us around to see the lights, especially in certain neighborhoods that took great pride in their displays. When our kids were small, we would make a point of doing this to spend time with them. We would sing silly songs, or carols at Christmas, and vote on which decorations we liked the best. It wasn't the only thing we did, of course. And okay, it's not the most eco-friendly thing to do. But hopefully, when they are parents, they will look back on those times and carry on the tradition with their children. It's the gift of slowing down just that little bit to be together and appreciate the world around us.
Yes, there is something to be said for the simple things in life. These can be very personal, but they all make life just that much better. They change when we need them to, but if we take the time to appreciate those little moments or comforts, we will be wealthy indeed.
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