Simple Pleasures

Although a lot of this is about being 'greener', it's not the entire purpose of this blog. In my pledge to myself, I've promised to simplify. To stop and smell the roses, so to speak. I had two such opportunities this past week.

Is there anything as simple or as relaxing as soap bubbles? A friend at work gave me a bubble wand and I have utilized it almost every day since. When I'm feeling a little stressed at work, I blow them and with the help of my fan, send them over the wall to my neighbor, who gave me the bubbles. She will then gleefully exclaim "Bubbles!" and I'll laugh and blow a few more and it just give us both a moment of silliness. You'd think we were both six, instead of grown adults, but I think that regressing to that inner kid for short periods of time is very good for the soul. I think kids have it right. When kids are actually being kids and playing their little hearts out, there is very little stress and I think we could could learn a lot from children. We often forget two of the best elements in life............to have fun and to laugh. This last five months I have made it a point to have at least one good belly laugh a day and one instance of sublime silliness. So far so good and you know what? I'm a heck of a lot less stressed.

The second goes along with the playing aspect, but it has to do with pets. Studies report that people with pets are less stressed. I don't doubt it. Phantom and I had an evening where we played on my bed, her laying on her back, paws wrapped around my bed rail, while trying to capture my walking fingers. This play went on for about 20 mins, before she gave up and came to head butt me and rub my head affectionately with her own. After a pretty stressful day, this play had me very relaxed and smiling contently. Sometimes she is such good medicine, that I completely forgive her for her 'hell' kitty days.

We tend to think that money, power, or prestige will make us happier, but these two acts gave me a lot more smiles than I've had in a quite a while. Someone told me to find my bliss in everyday things and last week I was lucky enough to find two. Take time to enjoy the moment, for that moment will never return and regret is just more wasted moments.