Life will always throw different things at you, and it can be overwhelming. For me, the simple pleasures in life help me get through it. Taking each day one at a time and letting myself enjoy the small moments that I can helps me get through the tough days. Especially now, as we dive into three weeks of online classes, stress levels are high and it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Simple pleasures throughout my life have come in many forms. A big one for me has always been Chai Tea. It may seem silly to put so much emphasis on a cup of tea, but the memories and connections that I associate it with in my mind bring me calm and peace. My mom would always drink Chai tea in the morning instead of coffee, and I would get occasional sips or tastes, until I got older and finally took on the routine for myself. Ever since middle and high school, I can’t remember going to school in the morning without having my Chai tea. Not only was the caffeine helpful, but it was just so simply soothing.
It became so much more as I transitioned into college. In my dorm if I was stressed or missing home, it was a way for me to relax. On breaks from college, me and my mom would share multiple cups throughout the day, including the afternoon or the evening.
Another simple pleasure that I have recently been able to enjoy more is exercising outside. It was obviously not very feasible to be working out outside during the state college winter, but now at home with the nicer weather transitioning to spring, I have been able to go for runs on my local rail trail and go out on the deck at home to exercise. There is always the gym to go to, but it never feels quite the same or as fulfilling as finishing a run on a sunny day with a cool breeze blowing through my hair.
And to combine these two things, I will often now like to go outside on the porch swing and sip on my Chai tea. Just being there, relaxing in the sunshine, even if only for a moment or two, are the small parts of life that I try to look forward to amidst this new long amount of time spent at home.
March 20, 2020 at 4:34 pm
I can relate to relying on the simple pleasures for happiness during this time. Just like your chai tea, I have a cup of coffee every morning with my mom before I start my school work and she leaves for work. Even though taking classes online is not ideal, I get to enjoy being back at home with my mom. At times like these, I think it’s important to focus on the things that make you happy, just as you have expressed in this post.