In the relentless hustle and bustle of modern life, it is easy to overlook the small, everyday moments that can bring joy and contentment. These simple pleasures can elevate our spirits and infuse our lives with meaning and fulfillment.
In this fast-paced world, it is crucial to take a step back and appreciate the beauty in the mundane, the magic in the commonplace. This recollection list is an exploration of those often-overlooked treasures, a reminder that happiness need not be a grandiose pursuit but rather a collection of tiny, exquisite fragments that can be found in the most unexpected places.
Join me on a journey to rediscover the art of finding joy in the every day as we unveil a comprehensive list of these delightful moments that can effortlessly transform our lives for the better.
People willing to love and accept one another despite their many differences.
Finding a new song you love.
When hanging out with your friends, after a great laugh, the moment when you stop and realize how much you love all of them.
Wearing suits.
Realize your loved one reached out for your hand at the exact moment you did.
The smell of a new book.
Smiles.
The initial feeling of jumping into a puddle.
Every time I see her name.
Pets after you feed them.
When someone changes an opinion on a strongly held belief.
The smile on your mom’s face when she could tell you enjoyed her cooking.
Animal kisses.
Making art.
Cleaning out study material after passing the exam.
Going on a date wearing a tuxedo.
The smell of wood burning during a chilly night.
When the chords in a song sound just right and resonate with your thoughts.
That feeling when you turn off your alarm clock and go back to bed.
Drawing a perfect circle with a compass.
Giving a pedestrian at a crosswalk the right of way.
Watching the sky lighten in the morning.
When someone says, “You made my day.“
Seeing your parents or grandparents showing love toward one another.
Seeing “100%” written down on an assignment.
When a girl has her hair up, is in sweats, and does not care what she looks like.
Falling asleep while it is raining outside.
Shaving facial hair into different shapes and patterns before shaving the whole thing off.
Writing poetry.
Finding oddly shaped fruits and vegetables.
Finishing composing a song.
Being healthy – only when you get sick do you realize how badly you miss the days you were healthy.
Working out until you can barely stand, then quickly showering and relax.
The feeling of inertia as the plane descends.
Showing affection to someone who shows you hate.
Complimenting someone.
Sunrise.
Camping in a tent with a loved one while it is lightly raining. Super cozy.
When you accomplish something, someone told you could never do.
Waking up on a weekend morning to the sound of rain and peacefully falling back asleep.
Seeing more money in your bank account than you thought you had.
Going up the down escalator. And vice versa.
Ironing your clothes – watching the wrinkles disappear and feeling the warm fabric in my hands.
The laughter of children.
The moment of silence after listening to a good song.
Hitting green lights my whole way home.
Singing a song in public and having someone sing along with you.
The feeling of laying down on your bed after a long journey.
Finishing a puzzle.
Seeing how many peas can fit stuck in your fork.
Look at the stars and see how far you have come in all these years.
The moment of meditation after you do something wrong.
Receiving compliments.
When all of the popcorn pops.
Peeling the whole orange or egg in one go.
Fresh, warm bread.
Realizing you have something in common with someone.
Playing a freshly strung guitar.
The fog layering glasses when eating soup.
When a girl is all dressed up for a formal night out.
Teaching children about basically anything.
Introducing a friend to a song/movie/book that you love and that they, in turn, love.
Seeing old couples happy together.
Getting a call from a friend from long ago.
Getting that popcorn kernel out of your teeth.
Late-night walks.
When someone hugs you, they do not let go first.
Taking pants off after a long day.
The sound and feel of a perfect high five.
When there is someone to share the Lindt with.
Hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
Starting a task and finishing it.
Single malt whisky by the outside firepit at night.
Waking up and realizing you are not sick anymore.
Making eye contact with a baby in public, making a silly face, and watching the baby respond with a huge grin.
Pee after holding it in for a long time and experience the joy of relief.
Playing video games in the middle of the night.
A full tank of gas.
A lone dandelion on a lawn of grass.
Helping someone with groceries who is a dime short.
The first minute in a hot shower.
When the hot shower water starts to cool, you nudge the knob a little more, and it gets hot again.
Finishing a great novel.
Closure.
Getting into bed when someone else has already been there, keeping it warm, and then snuggling said person.
When you wake up without hitting the snooze button.
Opening a book to the exact page you wanted.
Sunset.
All bills are paid with leftover money.
Stretching up towards the sky as hard as you can and feeling the stretch to your toes.
Finding money in your back pocket, you never knew existed.
Giving gifts and seeing them smile.
Enjoying a beer at the end of the day.
Waking up to the person you love.
When you feel included and make others feel included.
When crises bring people together – people hug while crying.
Singing in the shower to an imaginary audience of thousands.
Goosebumps as the breeze hits the back of your neck.
Sprinklers or putting your bare feet in wet grass on a hot day.
When you hike to the top of the hill.
Getting a straight or a flush in poker.
Learning something new.
The boss saying, “Thank you.“
Cuddling.
Petrichor – the smell of rain.
Seeing new growth in your plants.
Deep-breathing fresh air, the kind you must also be lucky to find depending on where you live.
When the sequel is somehow better than the original.
The feel of a soft carpet under your feet after wearing shoes/heels.
Freshly cleaned laundry.
Using a favorite pen on the first page of a new notebook.
Opening the door, the fly leaves and no flies enter.
The crystalline nature of freshly fallen snow.
Hugs.
A fruit smoothie on a warm summer day.
Good cheesy pasta.
Your favorite drink in a cafe with a good book, the smell of grass after rain and the sea.
Cruising on an open highway blasting your favorite song.
Getting a new bench press record.
Telling a person you love them more than anything else in the world.
Learning and performing a new taekwondo move (or dance move).
Getting off a plane and seeing the person you are meeting light up.
Trying on a new pair of pants and having them fit perfectly.
Beating a personal high score at a video game.
Seeing a loved one smile back at you while sunlight creeps in over her/his face.
Eating the airy puffballs that sometimes form on pizza.
Writing handwritten letters, licking the envelopes, and mailing them.
The look on someone’s face when they get the punch line.
The first bite of a plump nectarine.
Immediately find where the tape ends.
Giving a hug to someone who needs it.
Swishing a perfect shot immediately after you pick up the basketball.
Making love with someone you love.
Reading a book sitting on the balcony when it is pouring outside.
Seeing an animal (even as simple as a deer or squirrel) in the wild.
Feet in warm sand – especially after having frozen feet from being in the water.
Getting a head massage by a hairdresser.
The thought of the person you are into smiling because of you.
Wake up early by accident, realize it is the weekend, and go back to sleep.
Please share your simple pleasures in the comments below. 🙂
