Laying on a beach with the sun beating down on me, listening to the waves crash, a light breeze kissing my face, margarita in hand, no phones, computers, clocks or deadlines would be the ultimate pleasure for me right now.  However, like most of us, a hectic life and daily responsibilities makes this a tad bit impossible right now.  It will happen. ..someday, but not now.  Instead, I gravitate towards the simple pleasures.

We all know what simple pleasures are.  It’s those tiny moments that sporadically occur where we take a deep breath in and savor the moment.  More than likely it will be short lived, but, if you’re like me, you’ll take what you can get even if it’s only for a minute or two.  It’s those tiny moments that give us a break from the chaos and, often times, brings on some new found clarity.  We refocus.  It’s almost like a mini restart to the day.  The world shifts a bit back on track.

Here are a few of my simple pleasures:

1.  Silence – It doesn’t come often in this house, but when it does, I take it in.  I usually stop what I’m doing, lean back in my office chair, close my eyes and take a deep breath.  Breathe in…breathe out.  It only lasts a few minutes, but I take this time to refocus.

2.  Naps - I don’t do this often, maybe a couple times a month, but it’s my escape from the world around me.  When life gets a little too loud, it’s my mental “mute.”

3.  Yard Work – Sounds a bit tedious, but there is nothing like being outside, sun beating down on me, working up a good sweat and making the world around our house beautiful.

4.  Sugar Free Chocolate Mousse – I don’t eat dessert often.  Once in a while I’ll whip up a batch of sugar free chocolate mousse.  One word…amazing!

5.  Walking – Most of us take this for granted, but when your work involves sitting at a desk for hours a day/night, taking a nice long walk is pure bliss.

6.  Tanner – Our dog loves to play and cuddle.  If my day is unusually stressful or chaotic, I’ll walk away for about a half hour and get some good play time with Tanner.  We both love every minute of it and I always spoil him after playtime with treats and a tummy rub.

What’s are your simple pleasures?