Small pleasures in life

[DavidW]

To contrast the little things that piss you off thread... what are the little things that you like?  I'll start with one:

The windows in my office are high enough that I can air conduct without anybody seeing me.

[karlhenning]

Air conduct Haydn? What a concept!

Thread duty:

Having a kettle at the office so that I can make tea any time I wish!

[Lethevich]

Musically: portable music players, playing music on speakers outside while sitting in the sun (a very rare luxury for non-pop fans), friends who out of the blue take a minor interest in what you are listening to.

I've also come to find myself enjoying commonplace things which I should be annoyed by -

Missing a bus gives me essentially my only time to sit and do nothing, it's an extremely beneficial winding-down experience which might usually considered negative time which must be filled.

Similarly, walking in pouring rain is a wonderful change of the texture of everyday life. Sure, you have to sit at your desk soaked but it's the silliness of that which is enjoyable, and it's no less comfortable than sweating in baking heat. Perhaps it's the psychopathic part of my personality, but walking slowly in a rainstorm while everybody else is running down the street lke they're being attacked by stinging bees makes it even more fun - like those movie slow motion shots of the superhero walking down a corridor of slow motion bullets while everybody else is freaking out super-slowly.

Stopping at a traffic light and relishing the chance to take stock of what is going around you for a moment, observing the different types of people who cram into the supermarket to do their shopping, smiling awkwardly at the overseer when the self-serve checkout rejects an item, chewing gum after a snack, cooking for others, all are neat things.

[mc ukrneal]

Musically: portable music players, playing music on speakers outside while sitting in the sun (a very rare luxury for non-pop fans), friends who out of the blue take a minor interest in what you are listening to.

I've also come to find myself enjoying commonplace things which I should be annoyed by -

Missing a bus gives me essentially my only time to sit and do nothing, it's an extremely beneficial winding-down experience which might usually considered negative time which must be filled.

Similarly, walking in pouring rain is a wonderful change of the texture of everyday life. Sure, you have to sit at your desk soaked but it's the silliness of that which is enjoyable, and it's no less comfortable than sweating in baking heat. Perhaps it's the psychopathic part of my personality, but walking slowly in a rainstorm while everybody else is running down the street lke they're being attacked by stinging bees makes it even more fun - like those movie slow motion shots of the superhero walking down a corridor of slow motion bullets while everybody else is freaking out super-slowly.

Stopping at a traffic light and relishing the chance to take stock of what is going around you for a moment, observing the different types of people who cram into the supermarket to do their shopping, smiling awkwardly at the overseer when the self-serve checkout rejects an item, chewing gum after a snack, cooking for others, all are neat things.

The last three are essentially what a friend of mine called 'sidewalk time'. It is the time between places that you are walking to and from to get to the next place (can be other modes of transport), the key being time to think and reflect or observe the world around you that helps settle your mind. Truly, a pleasure...

[DavidW]

Air conduct Haydn? What a concept!

See that's why MI and Philo don't like Haydn... they didn't try air conducting him!

[Brahmsian]

* Playing Cribbage or Chess.

* Watching my stepson's basketball and soccer games.

* Writing in my music journal.

* Growing your own herbs, and using them to make something tasty.  I think Rosemary is my favorite of these.

* Enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning.

* Sitting on my comfy chaise in the living room with my pug, Beatrice. 

* My 9 year old niece's BIG blue eyes, and her wearing mismatched coloured socks (on purpose).

[Lethevich]

The last three are essentially what a friend of mine called 'sidewalk time'. It is the time between places that you are walking to and from to get to the next place (can be other modes of transport), the key being time to think and reflect or observe the world around you that helps settle your mind. Truly, a pleasure...

Your friend is far more eloquent than me, that describes it very well

[Szykneij]

coffee

[DavidW]

coffee

A mocha on a rainy day.

[Philoctetes]

The ability to walk is something that I value quite highly currently.

[Coco]

• A malty cup of strong Assam tea with brown sugar and soy milk, first thing in the morning
• Our kitchen windowsill full of plants
• Someone telling you they listened to something based on your recommendation
• Having an animal docilely take a piece of food from your hand

[karlhenning]

He resents being called an animal, you know.

[Coco]

He will do as he is told. *Joan Crawford face*

[eyeresist]

This morning I sat in a warm taxi with a cool dry breeze brushing my face from the window. That was surprisingly nice.

[Lethevich]

One that I wish I could experience: seeing stars in the sky. Because I live in a town light pollution reduces the majority of them, and going into the outlaying fields still only offers a fraction of what a clear sky should.

[ibanezmonster]

The Lakers being down 3-0 in the playoffs. Nah... wrong thread. It's more like a big pleasure, because there is no way they aren't going to be eliminated. 

[drogulus]

      I like to take small walks on the beach.

      Or, I like to take long walks on a small beach....a small beach, yes that's it, there's less walking and consequently more small pleasure.

     

[DavidW]

You know Ernie, there is plenty of eye candy if those walks are on the Newport beach in the summer.

[drogulus]

     Sometimes you find interesting things on the beach.

     

     

     

[Papy Oli]

A square or two of this :