Roadside Views – Appreciating Simple Pleasures

The day these photos were taken was a beautiful, beautiful day. The weather was fantastic and I was with the very best company I could ever imagine.

It was a day where my thoughts were very much in the present moment and not distracted by the past or future (which is a rare thing, I must admit, often easier said than done). Everything seemed especially bright, luscious, and captivating. Even the balmy stickiness of summer was enjoyable; with its humidity invoking a heavy laziness in our movements that meant all we could really do all day was just rest and appreciate the little things, the simple extraordinary things that far too often we do not give enough attention to.

Considering that we all live busy lives, always moving and on the go, constantly engaged in multiple tasks, occupied with different activities, or distracted by the torrent of things that yell out for our attention; we rarely stop to take in the pleasure of the present moment and enjoy the simple things in life that make the present moment so unique.

Usually when travelling around the island, I tune out most of my surroundings because it’s often just noise, very noisy noise from traffic, people talking, or a radio blaring loudly. I don’t have any particular thoughts and I just let the world go past me in an unmindful blur. However, on this particular day, everything seemed to gently vibrate with a soft rhythmic glow and there was something fragrant in the air. I especially appreciated the roadside views and how nice this moment was, just travelling along with such special company. I couldn’t stop staring out of the car window at all the magnificent colours and how nature seemed to be alive in song and dance. The landscape in Mauritius is often breathtaking and these are just some photos I managed to take on that day.

Appreciating the simple things in life is so important and yet many of us go through whole days, even weeks, not noticing the beauty all around us and not giving enough attention to these things. When I saw these views – the vibrancy of the flowers, the majesty of the trees, the elegance of the light dancing off the water, I felt a sense of awe and wonder. I felt stillness inside me and my mind was silent, even if it was only an ephemeral feeling. It’s a truly magical experience of soaking in the present moment and just feeling deeply happy.

Take a brief moment each day, however many minutes you are able to give to yourself (like a gift!) to appreciate the present moment and the simple things around you – it makes every day so much more pleasant. For example, savour the taste of your morning coffee; close your eyes in the shower and revel in the sensation of the water cascading on your skin; walk a little slower to be more aware of the environment you’re in rather than thinking about the destination. Even bustling city streets have their own beauty if you look for it, like a flower finding its way through a crack in the pavement, or words/a picture scribbled or sprayed onto a wall, a bird sitting in a tree as the sunlight pours through the branches. 

If you’re really lucky and live somewhere that grants you opportunities to watch the myriad of hues splash across the sky as the sun sets or gaze up at the twinkling stars embellishing the night sky, take a moment to breathe deeply and enjoy the view!

When I give my attention wholeheartedly to these things in the present moment, however briefly it may be, I feel a sense of immense gratitude and how great life can be. So, what are the simple pleasures that you appreciate?

P.S. This is my very first blog post for 2017! A great way to start the year ;)