A Very Simple Pleasure

The area in which I now live is a mix of young families, grown up families, single people, professional singles and couples, and retirees like me.

The other day my day was made when I arrived home.  As I was getting out of the car I heard two little voices calling “Judith, Judith” and there were the two,  little girls from across the road calling me to come and talk.  These delightful little ones are 4 and 2 years old and I was thrilled that they wanted to speak to me.

They showed me the treasures they had gathered that day with the elder one prompting her sister all the time.  The treasures were leaves, a couple of flowering weeds, a pebble and a bird’s feather – what innocence they displayed. We ‘chatted’ for some minutes and then I was told by the elder one, that they were waiting for friends who were coming for a sleepover.  I was told that one was only a baby and so wouldn’t be playing but her big sister would.  I heard that they would stay the night and then go home to their own house the next day.  This information was imparted with such seriousness and then when the car carrying the friends arrived, their excitement knew no bounds – I love that expression and it really tells how they were.  Jumping up and down and calling their friends’ names.

This simple interaction with these two little girls brought me so much pleasure  and I thought after I left them that often we look for happiness in the big things, when in fact happiness and pleasures are all around us if we just take the time to look.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
“Leisure” by William Henry Davies, Welsh Poet & writer 1871-1940.

So tomorrow take some time just to be and to look around and see the little things that make life worthwhile.  Two little girls made by heart sing that day – what makes yours sing?

Related articles

• Simple pleasures in Life (mylittlesliceoflife.com)
• My mum’s favourite poem. (martinlakewriting.wordpress.com)