New Directions: Simple Pleasures

When I think about joy, I always think about my mother.  While she was a complex person and we had many disagreements throughout our life together, the one thing I always think of first is her laughter and her pleasure in the simplest of things.  That is also a huge reason I was attracted to my husband – his laughter and tastes – after 33 years together his laugh still warms my heart when I hear it and I teasingly tell him all the time what a simple person he is!  And he tells me, yes I chose you didn’t I!

My mother had a tough life by today’s standards.  Her father died early in her life and her mother cleaned houses to take care of the family.  Her only brother died in a freak accident when he was a teenager.  My mother and her sister worked at a number of jobs during high school to help out but they never had much materially.  This didn’t seem to be an issue with her however, as she was always thrilled and grateful with the smallest kindness or treasure that she received.

I am so grateful for this unconsciousness programming that I surely must have inherited from her – I, too, am not much of a “thing” person.  I do like nice things but don’t really need them to make me happy and when someone thinks of me in kind ways I am truly grateful.  Sometimes I lose sight of what’s important and get to feeling a little sorry for myself if something doesn’t turn out like I had hoped but spirit always has had a way of reminding me of just what is important.

I remember on the way home from Florida after my mother had just passed. I needed to have an emergency surgery for a growth on my kidney that burst – the most physically painful thing I can remember.  I was in the hospital “out of it” for several days and then discharged, soonafter being moved to a regular room.  Still feeling unwell, unsteady and somewhat frightened about what had just happened to me “out of the blue” we started the trip home.  We stopped at a Publix Supermarket and my husband went in to get something.  I sat in the car with the windows open and then the reminder occurred – a spring breeze wafted through the car washing over my face in the gentlest way. It was by far the most delightful experience I could have had that day.  I think it had a lot to do with easing my fears and discomfort. It reminded me, yet again, that simple pleasures really are what makes my soul glad.

Years and years ago, I took a stab at writing poetry and want to share a poem I wrote from that period of my life:

Simple Pleasures

Warm and fuzzy puppies Sheets that have dried out of doors Roses for no reason A babe playing on the floor

Talking with your best friend Gazing at a starlit sky Walking in the autumn woods Watching the clouds roll by

A warm and crackling fire On a cold and wintry night A sunrise or a sunset Holding your loved one tight

These seem like simple pleasures But oh what joy they bring The quiet, gentle moments in our lives Are what make my soul sing.

Linda with her Mother, Rosemarie

For those of you “young’uns” who have never had the experience of a sheet that had been line dried outside, I am here to say, you really need to try this just once – the aroma and crispness of that sheet is something you will never forget.

And finally on a practical note – if you are having a difficulty feeling joy – perhaps even a bit depressed, try doing the homolateral cross crawl from Eden Energy Medicine.   Any time depression is an issue, you can be certain that your energies are not crossing over in your body – a necessity for healing and feeling joy.  You can find the exercise by googling it or contacting me for more info.

In closing, I truly wish for you simple pleasures. May it be so!

– Linda Isbell / Columnist / ldisbell@aol.com / (256) 764-1153

Linda was raised in the Midwest, graduated from Saint Louis University and hired into a corporate position with Reynolds Aluminum. She met, married and traveled with her husband for a number of years before moving back to his home place – The Shoals in Alabama. There Linda was introduced to life coaching and took to it like “duck to water”. Her empathetic nature coupled with a desire to help people help themselves; led her to and through a number of certifications, in different modalities. Linda currently practices as a Wellness Coach plying her trade in Florence, Alabama.

Cover Photo: Rosemarie, Linda’s Mom