Cold drinks, hot showers and life’s simple pleasures.
Just one? My life is a combination of simple pleasures here and there that make it feel worthwhile. Little everyday things that make me happy. In no particular order:
New music—I love being introduced to or stumbling across new music that I immediately resonate with. The former is even better because it’s like this person heard that song, thought I’d like it, and dared to share. And they turn out to be right. Ah, one of the best feelings ever. And of course, hearing it over a well-balanced sound system or headphones just loud enough to keep all the noise out as I take in the music.
A very cold drink on a Saturday afternoon. The first sip is almost like a hug to the throat and all the insides. Like a congratulations for surviving the sun. And you never really need a lot. Three to five sips and it’s a trip to the other side. And it’s even better if you hadn’t had anything else during the day—and so the sugar hits the spot, too.
Have you ever gotten into recently cleaned and ironed bedsheets after a hot shower? And they just hug you in like they are so glad you are home? Like, “Oh, Betty, welcome home. We see how tired you are, and we’re here for you. Put your head over there, and lay your body down. We got you.” It makes the long meetings worthwhile. Like a hug from a loving, non-judgmental partner that has just been waiting for you. Expecting nothing, just happy that you’re home.
Oh, and the shower we just mentioned up there was just right at first splash. There was no need to play balancing games with hot and cold taps to get the perfect balance. You just turned the knobs once, and the water was just right. On the first try. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. That feels like I cracked the matrix and I actually do have a purpose to fulfill in this world and everything is working in my favor.
Another simple pleasure is judging a book by its cover—and being a good judge. You just see a book, no prior recommendations. No review that struck you. Just walking down the shelves, seeing a book, liking it, and actually enjoying reading it. Like it was there just waiting for you to find it. Or it finding you just when you needed it.
And last—not because that’s it, but because I could go on and on, but no need to bore you with all the details of my day—is the perfect weather on an afternoon walk. Just enough sun, the right amount of wind, and the perfect amount of green. The combination that lets me really take in just how great creation and the Creator are. The air fresh, the warmth a pleasure.
Now imagine waking up, attending meetings that drain, but on coming back I find a link for a track I should listen to—which I end up liking. Passing by the bookstore and getting a book I can’t put down the whole afternoon, and the walk there lined up by green, growing trees, looking like an aisle. Heading home and not having to balance the shower for over ten minutes, then getting in bed on those clean sheets! No better day!
NdukuOutLoud 
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