Most of us say the simple things are the parts of life we enjoy the most. Yet when someone asks us to name those simple things, we often stare into space like we were just handed a pop quiz.
For some people, the simple things revolve around food and drink: a hot cup of coffee on a cool morning, a slice of apple pie topped with melting ice cream, or a steak sizzling on the grill.
For others, the simple things are found outdoors: an orange-and-pink sunset, the coo of a mourning dove, the smell of fresh rain, or the rare occasion when mosquitoes decide to bother someone else.
Some people find joy in human connection. Holding a newborn baby. Hugging an old friend. Petting a dog that acts as if you have been gone for three years when you merely checked the mailbox.
Simple pleasures can also be found in activities. Reading a great book. Listening to an album you have loved for decades. Rewatching a classic movie even though you already know every line and can predict the ending before the opening credits finish rolling.
Others find contentment in meditation, prayer, exercise or, perhaps the most underappreciated luxury of adulthood, a well-earned nap.
Or simpler. Much simpler.
My friend Cory, who has declared war on hot-air hand dryers, insists all he wants after washing his hands is a paper towel. Not a blast of lukewarm air. Not a machine that sounds like a jet engine preparing for takeoff. Just a paper towel.
My buddy Jim finds happiness sitting in a deer stand all day, whether he harvests a deer or not. Many people would call that boring. Jim calls it a good day.
As for me, I have learned to appreciate pure silence. No cellphones chirping. No horns honking. No stereos thumping. No televisions blaring. No sirens wailing. Just silence.
The funny thing is that none of these pleasures costs much money. Most require little planning. Yet they are often the first things we push aside when life gets busy. We tell ourselves we will enjoy them later, after the next deadline, the next project or the next obligation.
But maybe the simple things are not supposed to wait until later. Maybe they are supposed to be woven into today. After all, a good life is rarely built from grand events and once-in-a-lifetime moments. More often, it is built from small moments we almost overlook. A cup of coffee. A quiet sunset. A dog’s wagging tail. A paper towel in a public restroom.
The simple things are still there, waiting for us. The real question is whether we are willing to slow down long enough to notice them.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707