BY HERMAN M. LAGON
NATURE offers us long walks, colorful sunsets, and bird songs — these pleasures every day, asking nothing in return. These essential events have a kind of magic that cannot be found in any commercial entertainment.
These events root us in the world in a way that is both grounding and uplifting — the song of a bird in the early morning, the sensation of the earth beneath your feet as you walk, and the great beauty of a sunset. They help us to realize that we are a part of something much more than ourselves and that the most basic things are priceless.
Then there is the luxury of a good book, a treasured home-cooked dinner, and the ability to express yourself. One for the body, one for the mind, one for the soul — each for sustenance.
A good book whisks you to another world and provides a chance to investigate fresh ideas and points of view, so breaking from reality. A lovingly crafted home-cooked meal is a taste of comfort and familiarity, a reminder of the love and attention to detail that goes into the most basic pleasures. Being able to express yourself, speak your truth, and create is the most basic luxury. These times of connection are what gives our life purpose and enjoyment.
The pleasures of mindfulness — truly living in the moment, feeling the sun’s warmth on your skin, and gazing at the stars on a clear night — are the essence of being present and fully alive. Being totally present is quite a luxury in a society that is always trying to drag us back into the past or forward.
These are the times when we discover calm and feel really connected to the environment and each other. If we only take the time to see and feel the sun’s warmth and the night sky’s expanse, it will remind us of the beauty surrounding us with depth and clarity.
Then there is the aroma of rain or fresh flowers, the luxury of just existing. Usually overlooked in the daily grind, these are the little sensory pleasures that provide enjoyment.
Fresh flowers, earthy rain scent — these are the smells of life, of nature, of the planet we live on. They remind us of our lives, presence, and part in something far more than ourselves. In these times, we discover a sort of luxury inaccessible with any amount of money or glory.
Ultimately, true pleasures in life are not found in the things we buy or the status we achieve. These treasures exist in the quiet moments of calm, the connections we nurture, and the joy we experience in our everyday lives — the simple pleasures that reveal the true essence of being alive.
The ability to notice and appreciate these moments as they are — a gift, a blessing, and a reminder that life’s simple beauty is the most extraordinary luxury — may be the greatest wealth we have.
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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with./PN
