Simple Things In Which to Find Pleasure
Many of these things are chores that I tend to resent and race through. I have found that if I slow down and pay true attention as I'm doing them, there is a satisfaction in the actual doing of them—not just in the outcomes. It's a shift of mindset. I know "mindfulness" is a buzzword these days, but that doesn't reduce the pleasure that comes from simply being here now and noticing that.
1. Laundry.
The quintessential chore. It is so easy to resent this, and yet slowing down, sorting, feeling the weight of the basket, enjoying the fragrance of fresh-washed, and even the potential boredom of folding and putting away all carry the opportunity of seeing what's right in front of me—which I find almost universally pleasurable.
2. Dish washing by hand.
3. Loading/unloading the dishwasher.
4. Clearing clutter from a defined space.
I often feel as if I don't have time for this, but if I carve out just a small block and focus on just a small area, the feeling of satisfaction that comes from completing the task is truly pleasurable.
5. Various tasks for my disabled daughter.
6. Eating.
Not exactly a chore, but it is easy to rush through to get to something else. Yay for the "slow food" movement. While I'm not hugely into that, I think what it boils down to is "notice what's right in front of you."
7. Taking care of the cat.
Easy to view this as a chore, especially since the cat demands something several times a day and doesn't care what else needs doing. So it's particularly beneficial to consciously slow down and notice the satisfaction that comes from caring for a pet.
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