A very personal list. 15 years ago I started with the list of things that make me smile; things that make me wonder about Life and people – sweet things in life.
It is something I write all the time and will never stop. The original is very long by now and this is a shorter version. Please continue the list with your own Sweet things in life. Share it with me. Just close your eyes for a minute and think about all the things that make you laugh; remember everything that made you happy, even for a minute, and write it down.
Love, beauty, laughter, children, Sun and gentle, warm summer breeze; the sea; spring blooming and beautiful unbearably hot summers; snow-covered mountain tops; rainbow stretching above my favourite meadow; trees and flowers; pets and animals lost in their own games; lakes, rivers, springs, swamps and birds; books; chess, writing, long evening walks; music and movies.
Stars on a perfectly clear sky, and those that are hiding behind passing-by clouds; Moon, distant planets, comets and colourful, unknown galaxies. Life, somewhere far in the Universe. Unknown things and curiosity. Science and Religion. Sharing things and smiles. Helping others.
The beauty of foreign accents. The mistakes. Constant waves of challenges and rewards. The kindness and generosity of the Universe. Apparent cruelty of the Universe. Hot, sticky summer days and the storm that rages through them just as they become unbearable. A sudden gust of wind as it all starts. Lightning and laughter. The happiness of my friends. New beginnings. People at the market. Sweet, summer fruit. Little everyday kindness. Big plans and adventures ahead. Feeling a little bit guilty for having a simple, lazy day.
A walk underneath a tree line of fully bloomed Japanese cherries with a girl you will love forever, even though you are not together anymore. Her laughter when I pretend to be a baby tiger; her playfulness and bare feet on the grass. Dancing with the branches of an old tree swaying in the wind. Beautiful view and nature untouched.
Sleeping on a blanket showered by warm rays of sunshine, far outside the city. Dreaming of flying into Space. Dreams. Countless mass of people on a beautiful concert outside. Sweet photo in a magazine written in a language completely unknown to me. A job well done. First kiss. Friends that care when I’m sick. A new recipe and a mother’s advice about it.
A butterfly dancing on the wind. Snowflakes when no one is expecting them. Falling in love again. Travelling. A hug when you need it the most. Strangely shaped clouds flying by. Reaching the summit of a high mountain peak again. Flying with the birds and the sound of the parachute opening up above your head. Stepping on a firm land after a long, long boat ride.
Green surface of the park covered with people greeting the first warm day in a year. A distant sound of music you don’t recognize. A feeling of coming back home. A friendly smile of a beautiful girl passing by on the street. Strange, but pleasant smell in the air.
A perfect Christmas Eve, and the sound of the church bells in the distance. A smile on the face of a small baby looking at you. A kiss from your one-year-old nephew. Unexpected help and kindness. A day at a new place with new friends. That unmistakable feeling of knowing you’re doing the right thing.
Knowing you are moving in the right direction. Writing. Reading beautiful words written for you by beautiful, unknown people. Packing your bags again. Missing someone. Taking a well-deserved break. Working. Fighting for things you always wanted to do. Beautiful butterfly posing for you unexpectedly. Saying goodbye knowing you will do anything to come back again. A bus ride towards the seaside and the first sight of the sea. New friends opening up to you. Unexpected gifts.
Re-visiting a country I love. Waking up to the sound of the prayer. Warmth on my skin just a day after I touched the snow, thousands of miles further. Meeting someone you only dreamed of. Saying goodbye to beautiful delusion. Moving on. Open paths that can take me anywhere new.
Longing for the loved one. Dreams of the future together. Long, long phone calls that are never long enough. Growing, learning, shedding parts that no longer serve any purpose. Looking forward to tomorrow. Walking the old forest trails. A butterfly on my shoulder.
14 comments
es muy sencillo sonrreir cuando sientes la vida vibrar dentro de ti. keep on writing, keep on sharing, keep on smiling!
V
A day my baby was born…only memory of beautiful,long black hair…
It was the most beautiful period in my life…Smell of Christmas tree,the first one we had together…the way we put decorations…those moments when we’re so kind,polite,and cheerful..Close to eachother…I like to think about my grandma and grandpa…they took us to a wineyard to pick some grapes…The way grandma prepared strukli-tradicional Croatian meal….we were so happy…it makes me trully happy
Una preciosa lista, me ha encantado 🙂 Y todo me ha hecho sonre?r.
Ahora comparto yo algunas cosas que me vienen a la cabeza: recibir un mensaje de alguien a quien quieres, hacer sonre?r, pensar en alguien a quien quieres, o recordar un momento feliz, un gesto amable de alguien, ni?±os jugando, reencontrarte con un amigo o alguien especial, sentirte libre por un momento, hacer cosas lindas, bailar, sentir el agua fr?a en la piel, nadar y ver peces nadando a tu lado, un gato que te sigue por la calle, la risa de un ni?±o, taparte r??pidamente hasta arriba al irte a dormir en invierno, y ese fr?o moment??neo que nos recorre el cuerpo, un olor que nos trae buen recuerdo, un lindo recuerdo que pasea inesperadamente por nuestra mente y que no record??bamos antes, viajar, andar descalza por la orilla del mar, el olor a la salina, la brisa que mece el cabello y nos acaricia el rostro, una mirada tierna, despertar de un dulce sue?±o, haber sentir bien a alguien, so?±ar despierto, sentir la lluvia caer, disfrutar de su sonido, descubrir un arco iris, contemplar el amanecer y un c??lido atardecer, los sonidos de la naturaleza, las estrellas del cielo, las diferentes formas de la luna, el silencio de la noche,…una madre amamantando a su beb?©, una mujer embarazada,…los peque?±os detalles de la vida, y lo que me produce la mayor de las sonrisas es alguien muy especial a quien amo con todo mi coraz??n, y que a cada momento me hace sonre?r, me hace sentirme bien, y sobre todo me hace muy muy feliz.
My baby asleep on my chest, so peaceful in my arms. Stargazing. Invoking sacred fire. Chamomile flowers and the smell of chamomile essential oil. The way the sunlight sparkles on water. The ocean. Learning. When my children draw pictures for me. Making special connections. Redwoods. And a million hugs!
Clean house. Smell of warm home made food, cake. Bath. Shower. Rain. Colorful autumn. Ship clouds on August sky. Treetop observed from bottom. Birds flying in formation. Swans coming for curiosity. Nature in all its shapes. Deep breath. Climbing on the top of the mountain. Observing moment and life. Goals. Success. Challenge. Sweating. Swimming. Laziness. New start. Dancing all night long. Music. Going out with friends. Meeting new people. Researches. Conclusions. Different approaches. Transience of time. The beauty of own and other people collected experiences. Sharing ideas, making them true and working. Love, piece, hugs, family, kids, husband. Big smile, happiness on faces, crystal eyes and deep view. Drop. Morning dive, waves, ebb and tide. Changes. To be continued …
The delight on my daughter’s face when I fetch her at school. Kind eyes. Smiling eyes. Deep, gentle intense first kisses. The first post-argument kiss. Unexpected gifts. The expression on a beloved’s face when they receive a gift from me. Kind, heartfelt words. Moments of knowing. Being gotten and getting someone. Forgiveness. Brilliant, crimson sunsets. The smell of rain and freshly baked bread. Stepping off a plane in a new country. The feeling that you’ve known someone a long time. Comfortable silences. The soothing silence at 3am. Waterfalls. Beautiful Red Velvet cupcakes. Flying over Cape Town at night. The feeling that you’re home. Fresh linen. Well made, comfy shoes. Tailored jackets. Breathtaking photos. Dancing endorphins after a workout. The calm after a Bikram yoga class. Terms of endearment. The first time he calls you ‘Baby’. Falling in love again and saying ‘I love you’ for the first time. Resolution. The last minute winter morning cuddle before its time to get up. The smell of a St Joseph’s Lily. Orchards coming into bloom. The moment you feel you’re drifting off to sleep. Jacaranda trees.
Beautiful, Sholeen.. thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
The coffee powder smell.
The relaxing effect of a beer, stretched on a couch or watching people walking on the street from the balcony of my apartment.
Stepping on the sand for the first time after a long time away.
The sea breeze.
First kiss… certainly!
The smell of coffee in the morning, telling me that a new day has just begun.
That is the moment when I can choose how colorful my day will be… And then I feel the joy when I realize that my day always starts with the choices I make 😉
Love in every ways, freedom and awareness…
Immense Light, Immense Love, Hugging my Mother, Laughing with my Father, Remembering the Truth, feeling the wind on my face, Sunset, Sunrise, An infinite number of stars in the sky, Falling asleep, Dreaming, Being in a warm cosy bed, The sound of the Kookaburra, Lying on the beach, Lying in the sun naked, Watching the fish in the clear blue sea, Laughing with Friends, Warm summer evenings, Big fluffy white clouds, Strangers smiling at me as i walk on by, Freshly washed clothes, driving into the countryside, Hugging trees, Walking barefoot, Looking out to sea, Hearing the cicada, Walking through a forest alone, The hot air balloon journey with my sister, loving my family so… so much, The love I have for everything and everyone 🙂
A smile from a stranger I walk past on the street, a firm but warm handshake as I extend out my hand to greet someone new. When I hug someone who didn’t know I knew they needed one, and when someone hugs me knowing I love them or needed one. When an animal comes to me to say hello, to steal a pat or my heart. The haka! The sound of our warriors so passionate about our culture. The karanga! The sound of our mana wahine, in control, vulnerable, nurturing, providing, comforting, teaching. Rain as it hits the tin roof, pitter patters on a body of water, gushing down a stream, cleansing my body and soul through rain and a shower. Watching someone find their groove, be in their genius, flowing.. Closing my eyes thinking about all my silly mistakes, the friends I have made, people I have met, lessons I have learned. When I am appreciated for a job well done, when I show grattitude for someone elses job well done, celebrated collective efforts. I note left by a friend, a lover. A flower in bloom, not in bloom. A caterpillar, transforming, a butterfly spreading its wings, catching the wind… to be continued…
Falling asleep to the sound of rain on a tin roof. Watching sunlight ripple through the water. The infectious nature of a child’s laugh. A welcomed breeze on a warm summer evening. When my cat falls asleep with his tongue sticking out. Fresh squeezed orange juice, and the soft fuzz on a ripe peach. Simple beauty, like dust particles floating freely through the air. Hearing a friends voice for the first time in a long while. Silence.
Mom’s cherry pineapple cake, and fresh baked bread. Smelling my Father’s sweater as he holds me. Kittens. Ocean waves tickling my toes. Singing to my babies. Unconditional love. Hearing the words, ‘you’re beautiful’ from my son. Feeling connected to the world around you. Healing old wounds, and making new friends. Home.
The cherry blossom tree in front of my house. A hug you never want to end. Wishing on a star. Hope. Random acts of kindness. Watching the sun rise with someone you love. Holding hands on a crisp day, and a rainstorm of autumn leaves. Trust.
Learning something new. Creation. A faun trotting next to its Mother. Finding something that was lost, and losing yourself in a good book. Blessings in disguise. Earth. Running in the grass. First days. Looking forward to the future. Forgiveness.
The smell of a new born baby in your arms, the glisten of sunrise on water, the rush of sailing across an expansive ocean, a sweet lovers kiss on your neck, the sound of a roaring fire, a warm smile from a stranger, the scent of a wild flower meadow, a cool dip on a hot day, being lost in the rhythm of an incredible song, moonlit walks, a huge heartfelt hug, whispering sweet nothings to a loved one, laughing until you cry with joy, a deep steamy bubble bath, a life changing book, walking in the wilderness, discovering hidden treasures, lying under a starlit sky, simple seasonal food prepared with love, meeting someone new and knowing you’ve met before, baby animals, giggling children, deep soulful conversations, flying kites on a hillside, feeling connected to the universe, handwritten notes, surprise gifts, a thoughtful gesture, running through long grass, a thought provoking film, absolute stillness, cartwheels, dancing like nobody is watching, expansiveness of learning something new, spreading unconditional love, blind faith, the sparkle in someone’s eye, kindness and compassion to ourselves and others, knowing what someone is thinking or feeling without words, deep vulnerable intimacy, authentic expression, living passionately, majestic old trees, curiosity, the innate intelligence of our bodies, feeling in flow, miracles, the miracle of planet earth, wishing wells, road trips, walking barefoot, sharing delicious meals with friends, speeding down a snowy mountain, experiencing something for the first time, travelling to far flung places, cultural differences, the power of prayer, delighting in being of service, creating something new, the miracle of life, leaving a legacy.
For me, the first thing that came up when I closed my eyes was my daughter feeding at my breast. Once weaned, her just lying on my breast and being held. At that moment my chest was so much full of love, it was painful… I couldn’t understand how something could experience so much love! and was amazed to perceive that that something was I…
It took some time to become a stronger vessel to carry that expansion in the chest… so it becomes sweet tather than painful.
When people speak of love, this is my sweet reference point. Although, sometimes people mean many different things with the word “love”…
The second sweet thing that came up is the smell of my son, especially in the crevice of his neck behind his ear… no matter what age it always smells the same sweetness. If he catches my neck and hugs me, this is when time stops…
When people say that time is an illusion, or there is no time, I know exactly what that means…
The third thing is when in the company of my girl-friends I become this cloud of happiness and peace observing them altogether chatting amongst each other… I hover above their friendly chatter and feel sweet bliss and gratitude…
The forth thing that came to mind is not something decent to share but I will anyway, what the hell…
Because of my digestive problems (lack of enzymes and digestive juices that break down the food) I develop gases in my intestines… The pressure is very painful, I suffer a lot…
My sweet bfriend massages my stomach until alleluia! the gas escapes and we both share a sweet moment of relief… took me months and months to overcome the feelings of guilt and embarrassment and actually transform this into the sweet moment of shared relief (but I am committed to address the problem even if I have to switch myself to Pranic nourishment…)
That’s all that came to mind in “quick” but timeless re-experiencing of sweetness of life.