Often as the focused individuals we are, I am sure that we all tend to forget the small things.
Today, I looked up and enjoyed the clouds for more then a minute for the first time in what must be years. I have always loved the clouds. I used to watch them all the time when I was little(usually when getting driven to or from someplace) but now that I drive myself, I completely forgot about this pastime of mine.
So, that is the point of this thread. We overlook the simple things in life and need to remember what we are missing. I would like to encourage others to make a post about something simple they enjoy doing, and then add it to this ongoing list. It can be anything from bubblewrap to pong. Just tell us a bit about it before you add it to the list.
The sound of running water has always had a soothing effect. It does for me at least. The roar of Niagara is calming in its awesome way, but I’m talking about the gentle roars and trickles of a stream that’s just a little more than too wide to jump over, going through rocky woods as are often found here in the northeast. Following such a river for just a few hundred yards, marveling at the different ways water can fall, the physics of gravity, and the un-engineered way that the water flows, sub-optimally, just puts me into a calm and happy mood, with my mind energized.
Life seems to be too busy these days, but every so often I’ll pass by such a river, find a place to park, and “waste” 2 hours watching water flow.
I feel that once high school and robotics began for me I have always been rushing to complete things. Either caused by procrastination or stringent due dates. It makes me want to go back to previous grades in which I could take some time out and do things carefully and at my own relaxed pace.
Take your time
P.S. Jason, I love this thread. Thank you.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Molten again.
One bit of advice I received on my first Philmont trek was to space yourself out on the trail so you can see what is out there. If you walk too close to the person in front of you all you see is their pack and butt.
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Like running water or rolling clouds, I could watch a campfire for hours. The crackle, the warmth… The slow transistions as a log burns, and the sudden shifts when a supporting log gives way. The dance of glowing coals with hues of orange and red.
Red orange colas glowing
Dancing Flames swaying about
Warms my face and soul
i love the smell of freshly cut grass in the morning - its so refreshing and soothing almost
the night sky is amazing, especially on a nice clear night, i remember visiting my grandma’s house in Russia for several summers and being able to lay out on a blanket in the grass just looking at the stars for hours and maybe having a simple conversation with my cousins… those were the times
and i agree with Don Rotolo and IKE - the crackling fire and the sound of running water are absolutely amazing as well!
I thought I’d go ahead and tally our first ten. I’m glad to see many people have taken a liking to this thread and I plan to do a few of these some time this summer.
I decided to add a nap to the list. Sleeping in is nice, but a nap is really the best. It is just so calming to know I’ve got the time. I used to take one all the time in high school, but now I find it hard to find time to lay back at all. That changes for this summer break. I am taking a nap today and I’m going to enjoy it.
Cloud watching
Watching water flow quickly
Take your time
Watch the sun rise or fall
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Lego robots
Enjoy a camp fire
The smell of freshly cut grass
The night sky is amazing
Take a nap
collecting team give-a-ways
I am hearing-impaired (or, hard of hearing) and have been most of my life. Musical sounds have always been important to me. They can be found in music, voices, nature, everywhere and in everything. I lose the higher pitches – the sounds of children’s voices and laughter, the birdsongs, wind chimes, whispers. Those are places where beauty lies and I often wear my hearing aids so that I can simply listen. Not just to the important exchanges that occur on a daily basis in my job, volunteer work, and with family – but also to those beautiful sounds that create peace and magic and laughter.
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Lego robots
Enjoy a camp fire
The smell of freshly cut grass
The night sky is amazing
Take a nap
collecting team give-a-ways
Listening simply or simply listening
To quote Henry David Thoreau in his “Walden”- “We must slow down in order to go fast.” Life goes by WAY too quickly to sweat the small stuff. Slow down is kind of describing all of these things but slow down in general. Spend time with others. Stop worrying about where you are going and just enjoy the time it takes to get there.
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Lego robots
Enjoy a camp fire
The smell of freshly cut grass
The night sky is amazing
Take a nap
collecting team give-a-ways
Listening simply or simply listening
Slow down
thank someone
Find the good in people
I’d say watch a fire, but that’s already been taken…
I like to slow down sometimes when I eat and just take the time to taste all the different flavors. It makes the meal better-tasting, and forces me to relax a bit.
Step back from obstacles so you can see the big picture.
Lego robots
Enjoy a camp fire
The smell of freshly cut grass
The night sky is amazing
Take a nap
collecting team give-a-ways
Listening simply or simply listening
Slow down
thank someone
Find the good in people
actually taste food
take a walk through the park with someone special
watch the rain - bonus points for a thunderstorm*
My grandparents live on the beach. I grew up spending summers on the beach with family. This is the first summer I might not get any beach time with family, because I’m working at MIT all summer. It’s reminding me how much I miss the simple things that summer weeks at my grandparents’ house stood for during my childhood- the refreshing smell of salty sea air, chasing seagulls until they flew away, the sweetness of a vanilla ice cream cone, or best of all, listening to the calming sound of the waves crashing against the shore as it lulled you to sleep as you lay on the beach or in your bed at night.
listening to the lull of waves crashing against the shore
Listening to rainstorms is my other favorite simple pleasure, but it was pretty close to this.
