Final Focus
Simple Pleasures By Cory Sekine-Pettite
A
s I write this column, I’m sipping on a cup of hot chocolate and enjoying the simple pleasure of that winter treat. More and more, I’m finding ways to savor the small things — my morning coffee ritual, a hot shower (especially during winter mornings), an evening stroll through my neighborhood, et cetera — because pandemic life continues to be extremely stressful for most of us. So, to ease that stress and to maintain some perspective, I’m spending more time recognizing and appreciating the simple pleasures in life. I’m sure many of you are doing the same as we move into year three of the COVID-19 outbreak. Whether or not we’ve fallen ill ourselves, all of us have been affected by this pandemic. So, if you don’t find ways to manage the stress and to appreciate the better aspects of life, then you risk physical and mental harm from uncontrolled anxiety. Find small moments throughout your day where you can distract yourself, slow down, enjoy some time to yourself, and
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relax. It’s an easier task than you may think — even for the busiest among us. As one author puts it on the School of Life website (theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/ small-pleasures/), “the smallness of small pleasures isn’t really an assessment of how much they have to offer us: it is a reflection of how many good things the world unfairly neglects.” And it doesn’t take much effort to find the simple pleasures that bring you the most joy. Chances are, they are an everyday part of your routine, but they are slipping by unnoticed. For example, completing a task or an entire to-do list, the sound of rain tapping against a window, the unwavering loyalty and affection of your dog, holding the hand of your spouse or child, reading a good book, or listening to the calls and songs of the birds outside your home. All these things, and more, can become daily, simple pleasures that make your life just a little more enjoyable, less stressful, and improve your perspective. n
