It is very easy to find things everyday which make us unhappy. Focussing on the negative is self reinforcing. Since misery loves company, our friends, family, and coworkers seem to find joy in a “bitch fest.”
Sometime today, somebody is bound to ask “what did you do this weekend?” or “how was your weekend?”
It would be easy for me to reply “nuthin” or “not bad”, because in fact, I did nothing of great significance. Didn’t even make it out to the trendy film festival.
There is another path open to me, one I prefer to take, and writing this post may help me stay focussed on the positive.
It is the Path of Small Pleasures.
By rejoicing in the little things which I enjoyed over the weekend, I celebrate the richness of my everyday life, and proclaim that big occasions are not necessary as a road to happiness.
I share with you 20 Little Things that Gave Me Pleasure this weekend:
- The deer along the roadway.
- Lots of good coffee, a little good wine.
- Lunch Saturday at my favourite coffee shop, the one with the great homemade pies, though I chose the delicious beef barley soup and an omelette instead, lingered over a third refill reading. Alas, no flirting from the waitress, but she was attentive and peasant.
- Shrimp with pasta Friday night which turned out to be more pasta with shrimp. Mid sized B disliked the sesame oil I used to finish it, but two of the Hotel B horde (lil B's chums) finished it with pleasure.
- Lil B thriving in his new part time job, exhibiting maturity and responsibility generally, but still going bmxing even before the weather makes it sensible to try.
- Speaking of reading, Runner, Thomas Perry’ latest Jane Whitfield adventure. Check out Steven Axelrod’s blog about Thomas Perry and others.
- Dollhouse. The promise I blogged about after the premier is fulfilled, though last week’s episode was better than this Friday.
- Barbequing simply maybe the best chicken breasts I’ve ever grilled on Saturday. Succulent moisture trapped in a crisp outer layer of flavour.
- Shopping Sunday afternoon with lil B. He’s a manly shopper – four stops, under an hour door to door.
- Airing out the basement… a sure sign of spring.
- A Sunday afternoon walk, celebrating spring.
- Perfectly cooked pork chops Sunday. Clear juices running out of nice thick chops.Roast potatoes, garlicky with shrooms and onions.
- March Madness, even if only as background most of the weekend, I love the rhythm of the game of basketball.
- Watching mid sized B spend a study break doing Dance Dance Revolution Sunday afternoon, studiously perfectly executing the moves, but totally without grace. Gets that from me, I expect. At least he enjoyed it.
- Sunday morning in my office alone. Blogging, working, drinking coffee and eating an unhealthy breakfast sandwich.
- Ironing and cleaning, with sunlight pouring in the windows.
- Reading the Globe and Mail. The Friday edition is a lovely warm-up for the weighty Saturday paper, which I caught up to Sunday, basking in knowledge and fluff all at once.
- Playing with my OS friends. Call them favourites if you prefer, but friends they remain.
- Ice Cream.
- Watching Angel on dvd with mid sized B Sunday evening,bathing in the wonder which is the Whedonverse. Others might say it makes Dollhouse seem timid, I just enjoy.
I wonder what Monday holds? And the rest of the week ahead? I can hardly wait to find out.
Approaching the week with joy and wonder is my answer to the Monday blues.
What small pleasures did you treasure?
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Linda Seccaspina
Kat Hudson
Miranda Celeste Hale
Persephone13
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Catherine Forsythe
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Comments
i would have liked to see mid sized b and ddr sounds funny
Also, it saddens me to see you watching "Dollhouse" in the "Friday Night Lights" time slot. FNL is the best show on television, the finest Network program since My S0-Called life. With the unexpected gift of a third season the writers and producers have been able to take all the stories and bring them to satisfying conclusions. It's like reading a giant novel now, with all the subtle inter-connections of small town life. It's "Winesburg Ohio" and "Our Town" put together.
I would TiVo this, or better yet, buy the first 2 seasons on DVD.
A brilliant, brilliant show -- then highlight of my week, along with the twice-daily pug run in the moors and my nightly hour with Tim Willocks' amazing novel The Religion, set during the siege of Malta in the 16th century. Part One of a trilogy ... can't wait for the rest of them.
Saturday was filled with warm sunshine and lunch outdoors amidst the perfume of wisteria. The family of Orioles have returned, as they do each March, taking up residence in my palms and feeding on orange blossoms in the fruit laden trees.
Rated for excellent attitude.
I find myself stumbling for *something* to tell them---usually settling for "nothing in particular---just simply spent time together."
Maybe I'll take a cue from you and make a list to have at the ready. This weekend it would include a little balcony tending and window washing and grilling of veal chops and, of course, OS friends.
Buffy...envying your orioles. only the scavenger birds are around here yet. A few more weeks
maryt: coming from you, that compliment means much.
steven: you are correct re Running, of course. I have read all the Whitfield books, and I think, all Perry's novels. Butcher Boy remains my fave. was not a Dollhouse vs FNL choice for me. FNL may be great tv, but when I sampled it, never got my attention - too soapy? Not sure. Friday at 9 was Dr Who on CBC while the series ran - it finished just before Dollhouse began, so the timing was perfect.
Barb: mid sized B is no laffing matter. was great to see him at play though.
Poly: The Globe arrives in God's country late saturday, so I often save it for sunday morning/afternoon, when I can spend an hour or two luxuriating in the stories, the pics, the treasures...
I could say all kinds of negative things about my weekend, but hey....I think I'll choose your way.
I was lucky enough to lock myself in my apartment on Friday night and only emerge on Monday morning.
I was not lonely, instead I enjoyed the solitude.
I enjoyed never getting out of my pajamas until Monday morning. (not a common thing for me to do, but I did find it liberating this weekend).
I went through pantry and freezer and cooked my meals from things that needed to be used, rather than going to the store and buying more groceries.
I saved a lot of gas by not running around like I usually do.
I got to watch an early spring snow falling all Saturday. Rather than lament the blooming trees, I enjoyed it for it's own beauty.
I got to watch 3 movies!
I immersed myself in OS and did some catching up on my commenting and visiting with my friends.
I posted a silly thing on Ragdoll cats that people seemed to enjoy.
I started another post, which will take me awhile.
I "chatted" with a good friend online, a lot.
I made a crustless pumpkin pie. All of the goodness, but not the fat. Yum!
I got to lay down on my bed and take a nap in my sunny bedroom on Sunday.
I had a GREAT weekend being broke!
Peep: yeah, I had fun... how bout you?
Poly: I get delivery now. There have been times when home delivery vanished in Thunder Bay. I'd have to pick up yesterday's Globe at a box on way to work, get there half hour early to read.
I tease. You made a honeybee supers box?
Ya planned to sticker bushes for killer bee?
Ya wondered how wonderful fellowship is?
Ya cook walnut marijuana cookies for who?
Joan Walsh, Barbara anne? Stephen A., :`?
marykelly, Buffy W. m.a.h. Helen P.? a huh?
Public flogger? O, and @ Open Salon reader!
I jesting.
O, for all.
O, yummy.
I had a Saturday sauna and smelled eucalyptus!
Cedar! Lavender! Some said some socks stink!
O, my.
I did have a jolly time. Ya laugh hard with folk.
Robert H. Duluty is not a pot smoker. O, funny?
Good company and food is a tasty and heavenly.
The days in Spring get busy, whimsical, and wry.
Ya be anywhere and be satisfied with humankind.
I stay away from lies, and subversive ilk who hurt.
I love to benefit from wide-rages of intellect. Heart!
The heart on a left side that wishes to live right? Yea!
I'll associate with those kinds. Hospitality is beautiful!
Beautiful. Look up hospitality? Open a heart? Oh. Gracious!
It's as if the right company gathers:`Chariot fill with angels!
I listened to some of Kathleen Battle after a day with Deluty.
Howdy Deluty. What a pleasant and unpredictable day for me.
Sat Hi to the Deluty Family. Play a guitar at 17, and work well.
I enjoy non-cruel banters. We learn. We are diverse. Thanks.
That's a pretty big treasure. It's fun to reflect. Great question.
~
telling the pastor
his beloved fiancee's laugh
makes his skin crawl
~
a poem by Robert H. Deluty :`As with Sunbeams
~
in a hot wood sauna
everybody hopped out
and socks no smell nice
~
(huh) I blame cookies.
Ship me some of those cookies please
come on, share, don't be a tease
no dope did I
did not hurt a fly
not that sort of guy
Brenda G: come on, share...we won't tell...
Maybe Brenda Gail twirls two 18 inch chainsaws.
B. B. has a giggle that makes a bumble bee tinkle.
1. Watching him climb a new rope climbing course, just installed at the sports park near our house, and realizing that he's old enough now that I can justify getting back my rock climbing skills.
2. Resolving a big fight, he doing the piano practice he promised to do before I unplugged his Playstation 2 in a rare spat of parental rage. Me re-playing the NHL game he hadn't saved before I unplugged it.
3. Watching Friday Night Lights, because Taylor Kitsch is Canadian, and almost had a career in the NHL, until his knee injury....and is so cute, but too young for me to actually have a crush on. I just want to adopt him.
Juliet...what a lil harmless crushin'? If i can crush on actresses, you can crush on actors...and I bet i'm way older than you.
AJ:
a poet at play
always something to say
barbie gail was nice enuff to comment here
that alone should make her dear
:-)
I did a post last fall about life's little indulgences. And I love this attitude. Sure, we can go all Chicken Little The-Sky-Is-Falling-The-Economy-is-Collapsing, but what's the point?
And how in the world did Lil B lock himself out of his room?!? Never mind, I have a 13 year semi-airhead son.....
j lynne: the lock was like an exterior door lock - push to lock from inside, need key from the outside. Lil B figures one of the horde was fiddling with the doorknob & twisted it to the lock position. When he went out he shut the door. Oooops...
Today I treasured the fact that there was coffee in the coffee pot when I woke up. And that the accountants down the hall actually refilled the coffee pot at work.
"I love the rhythm of the game of basketball."
Me too, i often have basketball on while i putter around the house or even nap. Unless, of course, it's the Utah Jazz. Then we watch my man D-Will. Yes, I have a man-crush on him, what can I say?
Anni: I sorta blew my cover on my good coffee jones when I did my series on appreciating each day of the week. This being tax season, no doubt the accountants are living on coffee.
Leondre: we all have bad days, bad hours, bleak moments, but I find that looking at the Brighter side of Life pulls me out... Monty Python are my heroes... shall we hum along?
YAY!
Pawed!