Where to find the small pleasures of life
This post has some resources to help you find some of the small pleasures in life.
Take a hike—or at least an awe walk!
We read a lot about the importance of walking in maintaining our physical health. There was a June 2023 article in the New York Times about “awe walks” to inspire wonder in our everyday lives. These walks help our physical and emotional health. Think of it as taking mindfulness for a walk!
I moved in December 2018 and had a 25-min walk to my new office. It was still dark in the mornings when I began my walking commute, so I saw the early morning light start illuminating the buildings along my route. Watching the city “wake up” was a simple and beautiful experience! And as I began walking more in my new neighborhood near the East River, I noticed the loveliness of the buildings across the river in the late afternoon and early evening changing light. Photographers refer to those times as “golden hour” or “magic hour.” There are apps for iPhones and Androids that will tell you the morning and evening golden hours every day, wherever you are in the world! I began using my phone to snap some photos of buildings along the river during those wonderful hours. I was unknowingly taking awe walks.
Go for connection
Another recommendation in the news is about the value of even peripheral connections in our lives. These connections may remain peripheral and still bring enjoyment to our everyday lives, or they may become more meaningful over time and evolve into real friendships. It’s a matter of being open to connection, whether it’s introducing yourself to the crossing guard you see every school day, starting a conversation with the bank teller, connecting with the barista or bartender at a place you frequent, or finding out the name of the dog or child you routinely see and the adults accompanying them. These little connections enrich our lives and help us feel less alone in the world. Our mood improves, which is a boon to us and to the people in our lives.
Make it fun with music
Listening to music while doing chores is a way to increase our pleasure in everyday life. Who’s not going to enjoy a little dance party when folding laundry or doing the dishes? I know someone who queues up bebop tunes when she does painful physical therapy exercises at home to add some pleasure to a daunting routine. Gathering tax receipts and adding up various expenses is much less onerous at a favorite cafe that plays music you love, with the reward of something delicious to eat after the first caffeine-fueled hour there. Ask me how I know….
Add a podcast
Listening to a favorite podcast while cooking is also fun. I recently discovered Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s “Wiser Than Me” podcast, in which the actress interviews older women she admires, and we get to join her in learning from them.
Prioritize pleasure
So what we’re really talking about is prioritizing enjoyment over drudgery, and being open to pleasure and engagement on an ordinary everyday basis. This sense of curiosity and enjoyment of life is the difference between feeling old at twenty or youthful at 85.
I hope these resources to find small pleasures are helpful to you. If you’re struggling to enjoy your life, contact me and let’s work together to help you find the small and large pleasures of life.
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