123 Simple Pleasures In Life To Be Grateful For
The pressure of pursuing bigger goals, higher living standards, and more material possessions often makes us unhappy.
We frequently focus on what we lack and mostly end up feeling discontent and disappointed.
We forget to appreciate and be grateful for the small things and simple pleasures in life that present themselves to us every day.
But luckily, we can always find some little ways to boost our day, improve our satisfaction, and create more happiness.
How?
By applying and enjoying simple pleasures in life to make days more pleasant.
The good thing - satisfying, little things, don’t cost anything or are mostly very inexpensive!
So I thought it would be fun to share some simple pleasures that came into my mind, and hopefully, this will inspire you to reflect on your life and the little things that bring pleasure to you as well!
In this post:
What are simple pleasures?
Can simple pleasures actually make us happier?
How do you enjoy simple pleasures?
What are the best simple pleasures of life?
List of 123 simple pleasures
Final thoughts
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What are simple pleasures?
“Simple pleasures are the last healthy refuge in a complex world.”
- Oscar Wilde
Relax and reflect, and you will realize that it’s the little things in life that bring you joy.
These simple pleasures come in all different ways, from eating fluffy pancakes to making someone smile.
It turns out that it doesn't take a lot to be happy, especially when you realize you are lucky to have and to be able to experience these little things.
As time goes on, I always ask myself: how can I better my life?
For example, I developed a habit of starting my day and being grateful just for waking up.
Now simply waking up has become a real pleasure to me.
It puts a smile on my face and kick-starts my day instantly with a positive mindset.
This habit has become a total game-changer for me. I can now apply it to the tiniest things in my life to sweeten my day a little bit more.
Practicing to be grateful for simple things can work wonders and help your happiness points to add up and to enjoy your life more.
And it feels even more amazing to be able to recognize and relish these simple pleasures as they happen.
So the more simple pleasures you find and appreciate in a day, the happier you get. Simple right?
Can simple pleasures actually make us happier?
Indeed they can!
It is not the massive changes like a big house or a fancy car that make the most impact.
But sometimes little things like fluffy pancakes or listening to rustling tree leaves, that bring the biggest happiness boost.
Just try it for yourself and make it a mission to find them.
Simple pleasures are everywhere around you, and you can make use of them anytime.
Ask yourself: What small pleasures bring you the most happiness?
You will see that it’s easy to find them, and there are tons of pleasures to put on your own list.
Over time you will be able to even write your own simple pleasures book.
How do you enjoy simple pleasures in life?
Once a simple pleasure presents itself, make sure to relish that moment with all your heart and soul.
When you take the time to truly relish these moments as they come, you will find that the simple pleasures are what bring great happiness to your life.
It’s a tiny moment, so be present, suck it in and smile!
What are the best simple pleasures of life?
As already mentioned, the best simple pleasures don’t cost a thing or at least not much.
Those are things that we often oversee and take for granted.
That’s why I came up with 123 simple pleasures to remind you how much happiness can be found in everyday life and to brighten your day.
This list is by far not complete, and not all of the pleasures will bring the same amount of happiness to everyone, but I'm sure you can relate to most of them.
Hopefully they will encourage you to take a closer look into your life to find even more tiny pleasures to add to the list.
Also, feel free to add your own in the comments below.
But enough talking, time to relax and relish the following words.
My List of 123 Simple Pleasures
Fluffy pancakes and a cup of coffee
Taking a deep breath
Being grateful
Waking up after a good night’s sleep
Feeling the first rays of the morning sun on your skin
The first sip of your coffee or tea
A short meditation to start the day
Being present in the moment
Unconditional friendship
A cold refreshing shower after a morning workout
A smooth walk in the park
Riding a bike and feeling the fresh air on your face
A clean and tidy home
Driving a car with open windows
Mom‘s cooking (always the best!)
Smelling your favorite flower
Quality time with someone
Touching your partners soft hands
A kiss on the forehead
Writing down your thoughts in a journal
Helping someone in need
Gentle rain sound on your window
Getting rid of unused things
Talking to your best friend
Finishing a task that you have started
Waking up without pain
The first bite into your favorite fruit
Donating to help others
Making someone smile
Stretching your body
Appreciating what you already have
An easy Sunday morning
Getting a massage
Walking out of your workspace
Coming home and seeing a smile on your partner’s face
Cuddling with your pet
Learning something new
Choosing how to spend your time
A new brilliant idea
Listening to your heartbeat
Laughing with your best friend
Planning your next vacation
Listening to birds singing
Dancing to your favorite music
Motivational quotes
Resisting temptations
Surprising someone you love
Going to your favorite place
Reading a great book
Relaxing in a hammock
Seeing a rainbow
Crushing sound of dried leaves you step on in fall
Peanut butter banana sandwich
Showering in the rain
Eating ice cream (anytime!)
A healthy meal
Listening to your favorite podcast
Feeding your piggy bank
Smell of an orange
Seeing a ladybug
Finding something you thought was lost
The smell and feeling of fresh bed sheets on your skin
The smell of the rain
Checking off something in your to-do list
Hearing the beautiful sound of rustling tree leaves
Relaxing in front of a fireplace
Berries in your cereal bowl
Reaching the top of a mountain
Drinking a cold glass of clean water
Visiting new places
The laughter of your children
A sunshiny day
Meditating and yoga
Watching the stars
An aha! Moment
A surprise gift from someone
Perfect timings
Feeling appreciated by others
Jokes that make you laugh out loud
Memories seeing an old photo album
Watching your plants grow
Closing your laptop after work
Finding a four-leaf clover
Daydreaming
Getting amazed by a bright full moon
Taking it easy on a day-off
Accomplishing a new goal
Winning at Uno
Big snowflakes in the winter
Packing your luggage for the next vacation
Playing with a ball
Sitting by a fireplace
Talking about a good movie
Yellow cars
Receiving a sincere thank you
Feeling grass or sand under your feet
A memory that puts a smile in your face
Watching the candle light
Watching your childhood pictures
Meeting a good old friend
A perfect sunset
The fresh feeling after brushing your teeth
A cozy blanket
Fairy lights
Feeling loved
Unexpected compliments
Silly face expressions of your kids
The feeling that you have done the right thing
Looking down on clouds from a plane
An organized desk
Sweet kisses
Jumping into the lake
Being able to walk and care for yourself
The sound of the ocean
Shopping fresh food
Looking far into the distance
The smell of your favorite meal
An inspirational podcast
Catching a bus after running fast
Warm hugs
Watching a childhood series
Practicing positivity
Seeing others happy
Final Thoughts
These simple things can create memories that will last forever.
Embrace the simple pleasures that bring you joy, and you will find yourself being more content and happy.
Missed some of your favorite simple pleasures? What are yours?
Drop them in the comments below! :)
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By Ray Arya-Caspersen
Ray is a minimalist since 2018. He writes about the benefits of minimalism and is dedicated to helping you minimize, downsize, and live a more intentional and free life. Read more about Ray here.