Simple Joys

by Leslie Karen Lobell, M.A.

Sweet summer evenings, hot wine and bread
Sharing your supper, sharing your bed
Simple joys have a simple voice
It says, "Why not go ahead?"
And wouldn't you rather be a left-handed flea
A crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea
Than a man who never learns how to be free
Not till he's cold and dead

Well, I'll sing you a story of a sorrowful lad
Had everything he wanted; didn't want what he had
He had wealth and health, and name and fame, and all of that noise
He didn't have none of those simple joys
His life seemed purposeless and flat
Aren't you glad you don't feel like that?

Excerpt from the song, "Simple Joys" from the Broadway Musical, PIPPIN
Music & lyrics: Stephen Schwartz

Ah, the "Simple Joys": "Sweet summer evenings, sapphire skies / feasting your belly... feasting your eyes." I recently experienced a more-or-less perfect day: a day filled with simple joys, the pleasures of all the senses. My partner and I went for brunch at a restaurant overlooking a marina. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the view was spectacular. My French toast arrived with pieces of caramelized banana, slices of mango, a tiny ceramic pot of maple syrup, and decorative mini parasols; I admired the beautiful presentation - then savored every bite. Later in the day, my partner and I went for a walk along the beach of our aptly named "beautiful by nature" island home. As we walked, I was listening to the sound of the waves and feeling the breeze on my face. We stopped to sit and watch the sunset, sharing a beach chair. I felt held and loved, as my partner sat behind me with his arms and legs wrapped around me. As we began to walk back, and as the sky grew darker, I watched the reflections of light on the clouds: the changing colors of pink, red, and purple gave the impression that God, or some heavenly artist, was painting the sky. Continuing our journey back toward our car, we came upon a beachfront hotel, beautifully lit, with tables on a deck overlooking the ocean. We stopped there and had a lovely dinner. On the drive home, I was thinking about how grateful I felt to have a loving partner, to live in a place of natural beauty, and to have been blessed with this day. Nothing "big" happened -- yet it was a really amazing day for me, because I've learned to appreciate the little things that life has to offer.

Do you take time to appreciate the simple joys in life? Do you smile at the sun or sing in the rain? Do you feel the high of being on top of a mountain or feel the warmth of the sand beneath your feet at the beach? Do you stop to smell fruit on a tree or flowers on a bush? Do you take time to coo at an infant, or to watch puppies or kittens at play? Do you savor the foods you eat? Do you really listen to, and enjoy, the music you hear? Are you thankful for the air you breathe and the life you have been given? Most of all, do you ever take time to marvel in the mere-yet-profound fact that, of all the infinite possibilities in the Universe, God/The Creator (or whatever you wish to call the Ultimate Source) chose to create you?

Many of us, especially in Western Culture, fail to notice the little things that make life so sweet. We get caught up in the pursuit of what the song terms, "wealth and health, and name and fame, and all of that noise." In a culture that promotes the idea that "bigger is better," it is so easy to forget to take time to appreciate the simple joys, the little gifts that life gives to us each and every day. Simple joys are around us every moment: all we need to do is be aware of them. Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior, shared a great insight: "There are no ordinary moments." No moment, nothing in life, should be taken for granted. In developing gratitude for the simple joys, the little things in life, we come to truly enjoy and appreciate life - and then we are able to see the magic that surrounds us every moment.

About the Author

The Art of Loving