Simple Pleasures

As much as I hate to admit it, I am a person who gets stressed out very easily. I like routine and I have a system in place for everything, and I begin to freak out if I feel like I’m losing control over things. As soon as I wake up every morning, my brain does this thing where it runs a checklist of stuff that needs to be done that day. And as a result, I feel overwhelmed! I get things done though, no matter how I’m feeling, but starting your day in panic isn’t exactly ideal for your mental health.

Today, however, I woke up differently. I opened my eyes, and things that leave me happy and feeling relaxed started flashing in front of me. It left me in awe, not only because of the sudden positive change in mindset, but also because it reminded me of how easy it is for us, in the daily grind of things, to undermine the simple pleasures of life. We tend to think that if we look a certain way, make a certain amount of money, or in the case of us shopaholics, own certain designer items, we will be happy. But deep down inside we all know that these things are not the ultimate destination; they are merely things that make the journey more enjoyable.

So, here’s an attempt to remind myself of things that truly matter— things that leave me smiling from the heart:

When babies grip your finger + their tiny little feet
Long drives to nowhere in particular
Hugs from mom that make just about anything okay
Spending time with animals
New York style Pepperoni pizza, dripping with cheese – anytime, anywhere!
Randomly remembering an amazing song you haven’t listened to in years
Beaches, bonfires, and lots of sunshine
People you can be your unapologetic self with, rest assured that they will always love you and never judge you
Being served homemade hot chocolate in a cold, sullen winter day
Revisiting the past with photo albums, diaries, toys, and handwritten notes/letters
That feeling you get (remember this?) when you finally indulge your sweet tooth with something you’ve been craving for a while
Being in love (being instead of just falling!)