It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the business of the day-to-day. Sometimes, simple pleasures that you can savor every day brighten even the hardest days.
There is magic in the simple, everyday things. They are easy to overlook as not being important.
Simple, ordinary things in daily life can be some of the most special and life-giving.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Often when we think of pleasures we think of a nice lunch out, a massage, maybe a day away from whatever your normal is.
Yet that’s not often possible.
Why not look for simple things in the day to day that you already do that bring a smile to your face and lighten your heart a bit?
Maybe there are things that take little time that you do enjoy that aren’t a part of your every day that are easy to add in. It might be as simple as keeping your favourite tea on hand and savoring a cup every day.
Adding simple pleasures can add a bright spot to a long day and make those hard times all the more special.
What gives you life? It looks different for all of us.
Here are 6 Simple Pleasures that You Can Savor Every Day
My sweet friend Elsie of Richly Rooted shared the simple pleasure that she enjoys every day a few years ago which inspired my own list. I love how the simple things that bring each of us pleasure are similar and different, just like we are as individuals.
These 6 simple pleasures are ones that I have slowly realized over the years that are life-giving to me. Bit by bit I added them to my routine until they have become a natural flow that I barely think about anymore.
1. Walking barefoot through the grass
Oh, the feel of grass on your bare feet. There really are few things better than walking through the grass with no shoes.
Call it the inner country girl in me coming out but there is a such a feeling of peace that comes over me when I take a few minutes just to walk around, even if it is just to water my plants barefoot.
It’s been found to be healthy for you too! Have you heard of “earthing”? It’s not as weird as you might think. Many of us do it instinctively because of the effect that it has on our emotional and mental health.
(Sadly my current rental doesn’t have grass! When I’m at my parents I make up for lost time. 🙂 )
2. A cup of coffee from freshly ground beans
Hum, the aroma of coffee brewing as you go about tasks in the kitchen. When those beans are freshly ground, all the better. Someday I’ll get around to roasting them too.
Some seek a cup of coffee for energy to start the day. Others drink in for the pure pleasure and delight of it, that would be me.
I love a good cup of coffee with cream. If it’s raw cream then I am over the moon. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that though. It’s hard for me to come by right now too.
3. A square of dark chocolate
Um, yes, please! A tiny bit of dark chocolate is a must for me every day. I totally blame my mom. She helped break me of my love of sweets that have high amounts of sugar and introduced me to the finer things in life. (Hello blood sugar issues.)
After lunch, I savor a square (or two) of dark chocolate, 80-85% is my favourite, it hits the spot.
Normally I don’t feel like I need more since it is so rich. As a plus, I don’t have to worry about spending too much money on quality chocolate (fair-trade and preferably organic, is important to me) since it takes a week or more to go through one bar.
4. The sound of wind chimes
I can simply close my eyes as I listen to my wind chimes gently blowing in the wind and feel a calm come over me. I’m transported to my grandparents’ house in the Missouri countryside to a time when my young heart needed that sense of peace.
I prefer medium toned chimes if you simply must know. 🙂
5. Tea Time
Tea time is a newer ritual for me. I make a cup of tea, listen to a few of my favourite songs play, and savor a few pages out of a book. It is normally no more than 15 minutes but those few moments refresh my soul, giving me the ability to continue on with my day.
Maybe for you, that moment is at nap time, your break at work, or while your kids are mercifully playing by themselves for a few minutes.
I’ll be honest, it doesn’t happen for me every day. I wish it did. On those days I brew tea in a thermos and take a moment to breathe before I plunge back in.
If I am feeling extra fancy, I’ll make a London Fog.
6. The early morning hours
We are all birds of a different feather but for me the early morning hours are sacred. In this stage of life, I don’t have a baby. I actually don’t have any kids. I do have a housemate.
For many years I was a dorm mama at a school in Mexico. I had up to 16 “daughters”, mis hijas who lived with me in one large room for nine months out of the year, so I did get the mom life.
Ever since I was little I have loved to wake up early. Unless you count the teenage years but even then early was before 8 am. I know… 🙂
There is a beauty in those few moments of stillness before the rest of the house wakes up. I’ll make a cup of honey vanilla lemon water and curl with my Bible. (<— My favourite morning drink.)
Your simple pleasures are probably are not my simple pleasures though some may be similar.
We are each uniquely designed people who have different things that bring us life.
Often people talk about self-care, these simple pleasures are that- simple ways to take care of yourself that help you fully function as your best self.
There is nothing selfish about it. You can not be fully present in your day to day when you are burned out.
Simple pleasures help you to embrace the life that God has given you even when life doesn’t look how you pictured it.
As you savor the simple pleasures that bring you joy thank God for those little blessings that make each day a little better.
I love this post! (And it that Alcott book a copy of Eight Cousins? My copy looks just like that!)
For me: #1- just starting to do this again now that it’s spring!
#2- everyday at breakfast!
#3- yes, a couple times a week in the evening
#4- almost constantly! We have a set on the front porch, but you can hear them from inside the living room, too!
#5- Occasionally, in the evenings
#6- not too early, but I usually sneak in a chapter of my book before starting the morning machinery
Another simple pleasure I’ve been LOVING lately is watching spring progress each day!
Thank you for the inspiration, Elsie! ❤️ It is my own copy, I’ve had it for years.
It’s a delightful time of year to look around you and see what it blooming or popping up!
I have to second the tea! Also walking barefoot and sitting outside with the sun on my face, listening to the birds and nature. Finding humor in something silly a child says. And sitting still, listening to music.
Interesting how being still and noticing what is around me is the core of enjoying the simple pleasures!
Awe, yes those are all delightful and beautiful simple pleasures!
Hi, Katie. I love to read of other’s experiences like this. For me, crocheting or reading, even something rather “technical” are little daily savors. Tea time is great, but that’s something rather special. I’d LOVE for that to be a daily savor. Maybe one day. Thanks for the post. Just reading that helped me to savor a bit. God bless.
❤️I’m glad that it helped a bit! I love reading how other people savor the simple things as well. Blessing to you too!