Small Things

I am a very firm believer in getting my joy from the small things in life, because the big things will rarely do it. The big things, while often wonderful, can also be complicated, out of my control, and have huge consequences and ongoing issues. But the small pleasures are well within my grasp, and I love that something relatively small and simple can make me so happy. Yesterday I bought a new television, for example, and I think it‘s beautiful! It’s sleek and black and shiny and several times I’ve caught myself just looking at it. Not watching it, you understand, it’s not even turned on, just looking at how lovely it is and thinking how happy I am that I bought it. Sure I love the high-definition picture, new digital channels and superior sound quality, but mostly I just like that it’s there. It makes me stupidly happy, and I couldn’t be happier about that. There are several other small, seemingly unimportant things that fill me with joy. I have picked up a habit of gazing out the window for an unreasonably long time, not even looking at anything in particular. I think it’s a bit of a subconscious stalling practice as I often get the overwhelming urge to do it when I should be getting ready to go out or taking care of something important. But I find it incredibly relaxing and I get annoyed if I want to do it and can’t for some reason. And I like books, just not particularly challenging ones. I read for entertainment, so I don’t want to read something that requires too much concentration or is particularly harrowing or upsetting. I want to enjoy it and I really don’t want to have to think too hard, it reminds me too much of school. I have no problem admitting that my literary tastes are decidedly lowbrow, although I am faintly embarrassed when people associate working in a library with being somehow literary or scholarly, it does make me feel like a bit of a fraud. Much to my surprise, I’ve recently discovered I can really enjoy a game that involves virtually shooting people. I had no idea I even had it in me, but I‘m more than happy to spend many hours doing it. I love pottering around the house on the weekend, and can happily entertain myself for two days without once feeling the need to go out, although I do go a bit stir crazy after that. I love singing along to music as I’m driving - as long as I’m in the car alone. I love driving in general, although peak hour traffic can take some of the joy out of it. I love food shopping, even just mundane supermarket shopping is fun to me. I hate to be rushed, and will leisurely wander the isles checking things out, comparing brands and prices, and I’m the sucker who’ll always fall for the strategically placed impulse buy. I love buying CDs, even when it's often easier and cheaper to download. I love the ritual unwrapping, playing for the first time, reading the insert. Mostly I just love that I have so many small things that give me something to look forward to when the big things are getting me down. I think that makes me happiest of all.