Life is good. Really good.
I don’t live in a big, fancy house or drive the latest “must-have-it” car. I’m just a simple man living a simple life. Enjoying simple pleasures.
That said, there are a million little things that make life good. Things I really like.
I like the feel of a shower, of kissing my wife, of having a cat curl up on my back while I watch TV, of cold water on a hot day, of dogs leaning against me, of hugs from children, of of crisp, freshly laundered dress shirts, of pulling a weed without breaking it, and of grinding my bike up a long, steep hill.
I like the smell of the rain, of pine forests, of freshly cut wood, of candles just after they’ve been blown out, of fresh herbs, of shelf-loads of books, of canvas, linseed oil and oil paint, of chocolate chip cookies being baked, of my ancient leather briefcase, and of my wife’s hair.
I like the sound of slow, smoky saxophone solos, of acoustic guitars, of children laughing, of my wife moaning as she finally lays down for the night, of crickets chirping, of the absolute silence of the mountains after a serious snow storm, of cats purring, of pine logs popping and crackling in the fireplace, and of being far enough from civilization that I can’t hear traffic.
I like the taste of warm, gooey brownies with really cold milk, of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, of properly-roasted chicken, of Heath bars, of really good Chinese food, of M&Ms, of fresh omlettes, of Mexican hot chocolate, and of my wife’s kisses.
I really love the taste of my wife’s kisses.
I like seeing the sun rise, seeing a storm blow in over the mountain, seeing the full moon on a really clear night, seeing the leaves change in the fall, seeing my son curled up with a cat and good book, seeing my daughter take over the kitchen table with an art project, and seeing my wife’s eyes.
Actually, to be honest, I like seeing all of my wife. I like it a lot.
Then, of course, there’s stuff I just like.
As I’ve written elsewhere, I like playing my guitar, drawing, studying architecture, cycling along the California coast, cooking with fresh herbs, and walking my dogs at night. I love the way my wife’s eyes light up when she decides it’s time for cocoa or a bath. I like taking naps on Sunday afternoons, cooking Sunday dinner for my family, going to church with my family, and pretty much Sundays in general. Families in general, for that matter, and my family in specific.
I love curling up with the scriptures in an old leather armchair — especially when my rottweiler decides to curl up on my feet. I love waking up next to my wife. I like the way both my dogs tip their heads to the right whenever I talk to them. I love the pause between finishing a song and having the audience break into applause. I like Levi’s 501 jeans, sweat shirts, and old Adidas sneakers. I like fountain pens, Moleskine notebooks, Altoids tins, old Mercedes diesels, and waxed cotton canvas.
If you just pay attention, life’s full of such delights. That’s the way God designed it.
So, what’s your list?
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