The epiphany of warm socks
I got up quietly this morning so as not to wake my husband. I had laid out my clothes in the guest bedroom before I went to bed last night, but I forgot to grab socks. I remembered there were more in the dryer, but they weren’t quite dry. I ran them for ten more minutes before taking out a pair and pulling them on my feet.
Ahhhhhhh!
The warmth of the socks on my feet this cool morning was absolutely sensuous and wonderful! I felt pampered and happy…and then surprised that such a small thing could give so much pleasure.
That got me thinking about so many other small things—things that can happen so fast, they’re easy to miss or forget, but which should be noticed and savored:
- The invigorating aroma of fresh coffee
- The savory taste of a bacon/lettuce/tomato sandwich (with garden tomatoes, of course)
- The beautiful way my husband lights up when he comes in the door and sees me
- The sweet sound of my children’s voice on the phone
- The relaxing head massage during a salon shampoo
- The thrilling sight of an indigo bunting
- The fresh smell of a summer rain
Just thinking of these and picturing them in my mind’s eye was almost as pleasurable as actually experiencing them.
The importance of self-excavation
For some reason, when I was a younger woman, the notion of exploring who I was seemed rather selfish. Reading the 1994 bestseller by Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, opened my eyes to the importance of taking the time to get to know myself. She called it self-excavation, and she subsequently (in 2000) wrote a companion book called Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self. Don’t be put off by the age of these books. They are “evergreen” at its best, and if you haven’t read them, I commend them to you highly.
In the years since I first started thinking about self-excavation, I have come to believe Connection with Self is one of four essential life connections and that it is definitely not selfish. It contributes to a richer, happier life, and helps build the grounding self-confidence we need to be able to connect more powerfully with others.
What gives you joy?
So think about what brings you these special moments?
Write them down.
Take a few moments to savor them.
I’d love to hear about them in the comments below or over on Facebook.
Whether it’s warm socks, the fragrance of your body lotion, or the picture of your grandchild on your desk, notice the things that give you joy or pleasure.
They are important clues to knowing the real you. Savoring those moments will add depth and richness to your day.
Sarah Ban Breathnach books on Amazon:
Your Mother’s Love
Loved this post Elizabeth.
I love the deep indigo the lake gets just before sunset. I love seeing and hearing the geese fly overhead and when they’re low enough, the sound of the wind in their feathers. I like putting on a blouse still warm from the iron.
You know, there are just so many lovely small miracles to relish!
And those two books were also life changers for me.
Thanks for the reminder.
Well that just confirms what I knew already—that we are kindred spirits. I loved thinking of your lake and those geese. So vivid! Thanks so much for sharing that.