Researchers at One Poll, polled 6,000 adults in UK, US, Singapore, and Australia to determine all the little things that bring joy. The researchers came up with a list of the top 50 responses for each country; here are the top 10, by country.
UK Top 50 Simple Pleasures
1. Feeling of sun on your face
2. Sleeping in a freshly made bed
3. Stunning views
4. Waking up to sun
5. A nice dinner
6. Being in the countryside
7. Seeing flowers and trees blossom
8. Listening to your favourite songs
9. Making someone smile or laugh
10. Long walks
USA Top 50 Simple Pleasures
1. Listening to your favorite songs
2. A nice dinner
3. Watching your favorite movie
4. Finishing a really good book
5. Doing exercise
6. Spotting a species of bird you’ve never seen before
7. Seeing flowers and trees blossom
8. Wearing an outfit that makes you feel good
9. Home cooking
10. A match on Hinge (or other dating site) with someone you’re attracted to
Australia Top 50 Simple Pleasures
1. Listening to your favourite songs
2. Sleeping in a freshly made bed
3. Making someone smile or laugh
4. A nice dinner
5. Payday
6. Sleeping in a big incredibly comfy bed
7. Sound of rain on the window
8. Stunning views
9. Watching your favourite movie
10. Going to the beach
Singapore Top 50 Simple Pleasures
1. A nice dinner
2. Listening to your favourite songs
3. Payday
4. Watching your favourite movie
5. Dining out
6. Making someone smile or laugh
7. Staying in bed on a Sunday morning
8. Sleeping in a big incredibly comfy bed
9. Spend a weekend away
10. Doing exercise
Only two simple pleasures made the top 10 in all four countries:
- A nice dinner
- Listening to your favourite songs
Despite the variety of things that give pleasure, the average American only enjoys eight moments of simple pleasure each week – about one a day. These experiences don’t stay around long either, as the satisfaction of a moment’s pleasure lasts for about 20 minutes on average.
If I were to list my top ten (it’s hard to limit it to that many), I’d pick the following, in no particular order:
- spending time with family
- finishing a really good book
- doing exercise
- going to the beach
- laughing
- listening to music
- a cup of coffee/pint of beer (depends on the time of the day)
- traveling
- warm weather
- hitting the publish button on my blog
The research was commissioned by Small Luxury Hotels of the World; if you would like to see the full list of the top 50 for each of the four countries, here is the link.
Not in any order;
-Seeing my cats feeling safe/content enough to sleep.
-Cat purring
-Hyper puppies
-Being in water
-Sunbathing right after swimming
-Helping out a person or charity
-Making people laugh
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that’s a great list!
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I think one of my favorite simple pleasures is to bash so-called experts and their dumb studies. How do these idiots really know that we only experience 8 moments of pleasure per week? And who held the timer, while timing how long the pleasure lasts? And did the participants in this study signal something to those conducting the study, something like, “Wait a second, uh, wait, now, uh, YEAH, I’m feeling a moment of pleasure! Write that down and start the timer.”? And then, 20 minutes later, did they say, “Oh, ugh, the pleasurable feeling just left. Damn!”?
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Yes, I disagree witb the “experts” too! So how long did your pleasure at bashing them last? 🙂
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About 20 minutes. But I’m chalking that up to coincidence.
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Haha!
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so if I keep posting blogs about research studies, I can bring you 20 minutes of joy each day?
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Indeed. I love to point out aspects of any research that seem dubious. So go ahead, keep making my day.
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you wouldn’t be able to control yourself if you ever visited https://www.studyfinds.org/
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Hey, I like that website. So this is where you get some of your ideas, eh?
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when I’m desperate, I’ll see if there is any new study that catches my eye…
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I’m sure he is still smiling 🙂
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Haha!
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well the pleasure I had from writing this lasted about 10 hours until I read your comment 🙂
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Darn, sorry about that. I’ve read that scientists love nothing better than to bash the research results of other scientists. Not out of jealousy, but out of the fact that any research must withstand a gauntlet of intense scrutiny and skepticism before it can be trusted. I like the idea of lay people doing the same, rather than blindly trusting every research result that comes out of the scientific world, just because it’s “science.”
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it seems like several people were questioning this research; I guess I should have read the details of the study before I post. But I’m just excited when I come up with an idea to write about that I don’t think much beyond that 🙂
and I always enjoy your skepticism; it’s one of my daily pleasures 🙂
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The post did give me something to think about, in spite of the fact that you claim you didn’t put much thinking into it. But after thinking, I just don’t agree with it. I think people get 10 moments of pleasure per day, and not 8.
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I wonder if there is a difference between being grateful for something versus considering something a simple pleasure…
And you may need to publish your findings…
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I did publish my findings. In the comment I made, above.
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it will probably be read by more people than how many read academic research papers…
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I think you’re right.
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I know another simple pleasure of yours!
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Oh, and what, pray tell, might that be?
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Making a certain someone ….”smack their head”!… Such easy entertainment for some stooges!
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Yeah, that’s true. I love doing that. That particular diversion brings me about 40 minutes of pleasure.
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40 minutes of FREE pleasure! That FREE part is sooo sad!
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Well, if you’d like, I can start charging you for it.
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Ooooh you smart aleck!! I see how today starts! 😶🤚
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Thank you. Ahh, 40 minutes of pleasure . . .
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….mmm….! I never should have mentioned it!
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Hee-hee-heeeeeee.
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😛😛
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🙂
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it’s hard work to get that smacked head…
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and imagine if it happened multiple times a day; your day would be filled with pleasure…
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I don’t have to imagine. It usually does happen this way.
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but imagine if you got one every 40 minutes – what a perfect day!
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Yes, but too perfect. I want them more often, so that pleasure will overlap with pleasure.
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wave after wave…
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You all are pitiful! LOL!
And it does happen multiple times at times!
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but not multiple times enough… 🙂
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yes, I should have listed that. it’s just that it doesn’t occur often enough…:)
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Smart aleck!
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Love simple pleasures! What would some of mine be? I can’t rate them for it depends upon the day. I agree with yours except for exercise and beer. LOL!
1. Being with family, but also being alone!
2. Writing
3. Reading
4. Being in nature….at the beach!
5. Making people smile and laughing
6. Massages
7. Making my taste buds happy.
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great list, although massages kind of freak me out, so I’ve never had one… 🙂
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You don’t know what you are missing! LOL!
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I didn’t make a list, but almost all of your things would be on my list too. I also had the same reaction that some others did to the eight moments stat. 1. I question how they would measure this. 2. It sounds too low to be true. If that is the actual number, then that is a pretty startling and sad figure.
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I did not read the details about how the research was conducted, but it was sponsored by a hotel group, for what that’s worth 🙂
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Two thoughts…
That first item on the UK list probably says more about our climate than our national psyche.
There’s a lot of nature in there
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it was nice to see how often being out in nature was mentioned, in all four countries…
and I guess those sunny days are to be treasured in the U.K….
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interesting to read the lists and most of them make total sense. i’m all about life’s simple pleasures over grand events, they are what make each day so good.
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I couldn’t agree more…, and you are so good about sharing the simple pleasures you experience…
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I agree with some of the commenters, in that joy is hard to quantify and how long it lasts just as difficult to ascertain. I thought about making a list, but picking one “joy” over so many others turned out to be too difficult. That being said, somewhere on any list I would make would be time with family and friends. Other than still being alive, they are what give me the greatest joy!
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it doesn’t sound like this research would pass the WordPress board of review 🙂
and yes, being alive brings me great pleasure as well… 🙂
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It’s great to see that we can get pleasure from a variety of things in a variety of ways. Looking at the lists makes me think people were given items to choose from rather than simply stating what they thought. I wonder how different a result that would bring.
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I was wondering the same thing in terms of whether it was free response, or pick from a list. I should look more into how the research was done…
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It could be interesting.
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it looks like one of the commenters checked, and it was not free response, people picked from a set list…
I think free response would have been better…
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I agree. I can never find the exact response I want to make on a list. 🙂
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but I guess it makes it easier for the researchers to compile the results…
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True.
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So I am left wondering what a Canadian list might look like. Maybe this:
Watch the hockey game
Bacon for breakfast
Drinking Canadian beer
Bacon bits on a Caesar for lunch
Enjoying the great outdoors
Taking your kids to hockey
Bacon on your burger for dinner.
Of course most of this doesn’t work for me because I don’t like hockey, beer or bacon. OMG I may have to move…
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I never thought about Canadian’s love for bacon, even though there is Canadian bacon!
But I am sure there is a place for you in Canada – perhaps you can be the designated driver for taking people home who have consumed too much beer while watching a hockey game 🙂
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Imagine the fodder that would produce for future blogs.
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I’m sure there would be some good stories…
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Maybe we can start our own country that has no hockey or bacon. I will allow beer though.
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I don’t think such a country would attract too many Canadians… 🙂
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But some will breath a sigh of relief!
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I am sure… 🙂
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Ha ha yes beer will have to stay.
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even if the country started with no beer, it would find a way to get there… 🙂
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This sounds like people were given a list of things to tick rather than thinking for themselves, but I’m wondering if they omitted ‘mind-blowing sex’ from it, as I’d have thought it worth a mention. From my memory, of course…
Good to see music chosen in all four countries, though I’m horrified it was only at #8 here. My work is definitely not done!
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the fact that sex was not mentioned did seem kind of odd..
and I was surprised that music was so far down the list for the U.K. – you’ve got to get the word out!
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I’m guessing that, if this was a list given to respondents, that wasn’t included. If that’s right I think it invalidates the survey big time!
I’m doing my best on getting the word out – a new post coming shortly…
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yes, you wonder what else they left off that may give people pleasure…
looking forward to that next post of yours!
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I’m assuming they’d have needed to cater for weirdos if they’d made the list longer…
New post has just landed…
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It would have been interesting to see what people REALY consider as their simple pleasures.
Look forward to reading your new post!
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They should have had an ‘other’ box on the survey. Would have been fun to see the responses.
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Interesting! Did they do an overall top 10? I didn’t find myself in any of their lists, but mine would be closer to yours I think.
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I did not see an overall top 10 list, that would have been interesting to see…
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How interesting, Jim. I think that people who live in countries with warm weather don’t feature sun in their top 10 because it is always there so not a priority. If I lived in England, sun on my face would be top of my list too.
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I never thought of that; I guess we start to take things for granted if we always have them…
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Strangely, two of my pleasures are going to bed AND waking up. Finishing a good book is always a source of anxiety for me–almost like the loss of a friend. Sometimes I’ll go a week without starting a new book because I’m not “over” the last one. The bed sheets thing is definitely on my list. You’d think I’d wash my sheets more often.
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yes, I also enjoy those first two that you list; maybe I take them too much for granted. And I was ready to change “finishing a good book” to “reading a good book” because of the point you make. But I guess I was too lazy to do so…
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Hi Jim, it does look like people were given choices rather than picking their own thoughts which would disqualify the study from being very scientific since you would actually be leading people in a certain direction. However, it is kind of interesting, although that number of pleasures per week and how long they last is questionable too. I like simple pleasures more than what would be considered a huge pleasure. Sometimes I think that simple pleasures are remembered more and affect us more in a good way. I have written several posts listing some of my simple pleasures, though I don’t think I could put them in a numbered list because they are all so good. I need to do another post like that again soon, it’s been a while. Great post Jim, I enjoy when you bring in these studies.😀😺
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Steve, thanks for your insights and for checking on how the research was conducted. I agree that simple pleasures are quite enjoyable, since they are what get us through our day to day routines.
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My pleasure, yes, that is so true!😀😺
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It definitely is, a tick list and I agree with the comment if you live where it’s sunny it is a given…however, even though tropical storms are a given here they would be on my list as is kneading dough(amazing ) where the mind wanders while kneading dough…:) x
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a double benefit from kneading dough – you enjoy the process – and the result!
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It is also a good way to get rid of any frustrations, Jim and sometimes that ball of dough looks just somebody’s head…haha x
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that does sound like a good way to get out your frustrations 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your list. My first cup of coffee, which I’m drinking right now is a necessity, and not for pleasure. But my afternoon one is the opposite.
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I’m the same way; a late afternoon coffee is a pleasure for me as well…
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Some SLH hotels we’ve stayed in seem to have missed the whole point of pleasure.
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maybe that’s why they took the survey; you’ll have to stay at one again to see if they have improved…
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Such an interesting list! Soon as I saw #1 for UK that made sense lol they don’t get a lot of sun I hear…
My list in no particular order:
Finish a really good book
Hitting publish on my post (same as you)!
Laughing with people I enjoy being around (friends, family, Husband, coworkers)
The feeling I get after a hard workout
Drinking really good coffee
Walks/Sunshine
Driving with music on
Music
Junk food lol (bc I’m real) 🤣
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Wonderful list, and yes, there is guilty pleasure in eating junk food 🙂
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Top simple pleasures:
-road tripping on a sunny day to the country side while listening to my favorite songs
-smell of freshly baked bread in the morning
-rainy afternoon over a hot cup of coco
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wow – those all sound so appealing! now I want some freshly baked bread…
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this made me realise….n in a place to rethink about things that will give me pleasure…n tbh…the thought itself made me happy …n brought a gentle smile….this post will remind everyone..to discover themselves..to know themsleves…n learn more abt us…also…a moment for imagining the pleasure instead to planning for stress👍
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well said, Ayushi!
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Interesting compilation! Here’s a quick draft in no particular order (let’s keep this assignment as easy as possible):
Listening to music
Writing poetry and short stories
Visiting family
Finishing the reading of a book
Cooking (or do I just prepare food)
Traveling
Watching an older, classic film
Seeing the ocean (again)
Reading Borden’s Blather
E
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great list, well at least most of it. I’d agree that my blog is simple; whether or not it’s a pleasure is up for debate 🙂
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anything and everything is my pleasure unless it does not harms me or someone else!
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Interesting
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Spending time with my family
Sleeping on a well made comfy bed
Pay day
Nature gazing
Listening to a really good music
Trying out new recipes
Dancing
Writing
Taking lovely photos
Dressing up in unique outfits
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Thanks for your comments – except for the dancing and wearing unique outfits, I like your list 🙂
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Thanks☺
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Far as I am (in Africa), as much as I find pleasure in enjoying fruits and vegetables as my snack, a day is not a day when not spent indoors, reading and writing something. I cannot put a halt to writing without having felt something for writing should come with a feeling (a feeling that’s obviously good) 😊
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I agree that it’s a good day when you get to spend part of the day reading and writing. And I hope you get lots of good feelings!
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I do get them thanks😊
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What an absolutely delightful post 🥰
Some of mine, no particular order:
-Hot showers and baths
-When a cat snuggles up on or next to me
-The sound of cats purring
-When a dog runs up to you with its tail wagging ridiculously fast and they sniff you like crazy
-Spotting a bird, any bird at all
-Birdsong, even the sound of Grackles screaming their hearts out at sunset (man I miss Texas…)
-The way the light blankets everything in a warm glow in the early morning
-The smell after it rains
-The lumber smell in hardware stores (+the smell of lumber in general…)
-When my partner does a chore I didn’t want to do!
-The hands or paws of baby humans and animals (adult animals too though…!)
-Feeling gratitude
-Reading a good wholesome WordPress post!
I feel so nice now after thinking of all these things 💕 I think even thinking about simple pleasures might be a simple pleasure for me.
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what a wonderful list; I should have put a hot shower on my list as well. and yes, the smell after rain is just wonderful.
thank you for taking the time to comment!
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I’d definitely stick with your list Jim 🙂
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there’s more I could add, but I figured I had to cut if off somewhere 🙂
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Cooking a nice dinner for the family, great feeling well are feed and watered.
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thanks for your comment, Patrick. there is something special about sharing a meal with family…
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