I had a short conversation with a friend a few weeks ago. We talked about the things we like to do, and I was surprised about how similar our interests were. Most of what we discussed was the appreciation of our current surroundings; we both liked to be around home and enjoyed where we lived. We were thankful for a place to be with those we loved.
I find that my favorite things are really simple but not always easy to achieve. Peace is a huge priority, just time spent in neutral. It seems life is like driving a truck on a short run, lots of jamming gears. You start in second gear then ride the RPMs as you climb to road gear, then back down-over and over again. To work down to fourth gear; then just push the clutch and coast to a stop without shifting, is a beautiful, cherished feeling. That’s what peace feels like to me. I get that at home.
I think being at ease in your surroundings is simply trust. I have observed what happens when trust is broken, and people walk around like they are trying to not crush eggs. When I am at home, I am at ease. Lisa and the cats love me without condition. I trust them all although we do demand that the cats are indoors daily by 4 pm.; we want to build trust not test trust. This is my place, and no one gets to shatter that peace except the occasional UPS delivery truck.
I think the basis for contentment is being thankful. That feeling of being happy at home is a sign of thankfulness. We don’t keep a busy social or travel schedule. When I am at home, I can look around and see what makes me thankful. That cup of tea, that streaming movie, that cat on my lap, that woman in the other chair. I want nothing more.
I regularly check my priorities and adjust them, if necessary. It is a simple act for me as I imagine I am the subject of an interview. In this interview, I am near the end of my life and am asked what things I wish I had done more often or what I will miss the most. My answers are always the same and I compare them to my current priorities, then adjust if needed.
Here is what I have found; most of what I want the most, I already have. The key to enjoying life is to enjoy the little things then imagine what that moment would have been like without the slice of enjoyment you were just gifted. That little exercise will make you thankful.
It’s like Augustus says in the movie, “Lonesome Dove,” “The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.” I think he was right; you just have to pay attention to what is good, enjoy it and then be thankful for that moment. Lisa could tell you all about enjoying the company of a feisty gentleman, even if he’s just writing his column.
