Ah, The Pleasure Life Offers

At a workshop on "The Search for Meaning" put on by the Center for Story and Symbol, we were asked to write down "small delights" that gave us pleasure. This was my list:

One of the greatest perks of working out of my home is the opportunity to walk into the bedroom for a delicious middle-of-the-day nap.

Having cold foods served cold and hot foods served hot gives me great pleasure, although I embarrassed my children when they were young by the way I ordered hot chocolate. I'd ask the waitress to "please first pour hot water into a cup and throw out that water when the cup gets hot before adding chocolate mix and more hot water." It may have been an unusual request, but I always got a really hot (rather than lukewarm) cup of chocolate.

One of the true pleasures of marriage happens when I awaken in the middle of the night and scoot over to spoon-snuggle with my husband, falling asleep again in a light and comfortable embrace.

When I turn on the computer and everything works (which is most of the time), I feel terrific having this technological marvel at my beckoned call.

What a wonderful delight is a phone call from a friend for no other reason than just to hear her voice.

After we finished our lists, we each shared one thing. When I gave my "small delight," everyone laughed because they all recognized the pleasure in "using the remote control key to lock and unlock my car"—and the sense of power it gives to the owner of the key.