Simple pleasures.

The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term, is the indispensable prerequisite for success.
– Brian Tracy

Unprecedented is not hyperbole. It’s most likely we’ll need to keep morphing and evolving along with the rest of our community for the lengthy chapter to come. But at least we’re getting better at being patient and living in the moment.

We are, aren’t we? We better be.

Because when life is a maelstrom of activity, appointments and engagements – we end up paying world-wise gurus to show us the simple path. We invest in learning to sit still, gaze at our navel and discover quieter cycles – both mentally and physically. Something the pandemic offers us for free!

And we can still indulge in gentler, basic delights. Eating, drinking, bathing, reading, talking, sleeping, sending cards, giving gifts and a little self-care. Hecks a bunch – how about a LOT of self-care? Since we’re left to our own devices why not learn how to give ourselves (or our sweetheart) a facial? Or a manicure. Or pedicure.

Not only will we look and feel better, but our appreciation for those talented technicians who’ve taken such good care of us all these years will be heightened. So when we go safely back into the spa it will be with a greater sense of appreciation for the comfort and pleasure to be found there.

And – once you’ve written everyone you love and enumerated why you love them, after you’ve sent trinkets to those who are on their own reminding them they’re not forgotten, once you’ve bathed and exfoliated and polished your skin to a radiant glow – there’s always an online dance course. If now isn’t the time to learn the merengue – when is?

Here’s our opportunity to follow the age-old motto: Dance like no one’s watching. Totally possible during our global time-out. No need to fear what anyone thinks; we’ve all been handed hall passes from self-consciousness.

And even if someone catches a peek of us spinning like a whirling dervish in the living room – remember the fine advice Marilyn Monroe offered: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous rather than absolutely boring.”

“Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca