Simple Pleasures.

Of course as a parent there are so many things I need to teach my children...but sometimes a surprising thing happens and my children teach me something.

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day here, and we went out for a nature walk. We do this regularly as a part of our homeschooling, and my older two children bring along clip boards, and make drawings of things that interest them. This time, Jasper bent down to pick up a plump pine cone...

 

And started throwing it. Picking it up, and throwing it again. Picking it up...you get the idea. He must have thrown the pine cone for a good ten minutes.

(Can you see the airborne cone in the picture above, and its shadow on the grass?) I couldn't help but admire how easily he took joy and fun from such a simple activity as throwing a pine cone on the ground. I couldn't help but feel that he was on to something there. Why can't I live in the moment more often, forget about all the big stuff, and just take pleasure in the little things? Too often I am stressing out over all the things that need to be done, over the mess in the house, over all kinds of things...when there are probably lots of little, simple ways I could find joy and peace. Perhaps not by throwing a pine cone, but by sipping a tea and reading a few pages from a good book in the quiet of my room? Perhaps by watching the sun rise from my bedroom window? Or by listening to some beautiful music?

Not to mention...watching my children play outside yesterday with sticks, leaves and pine cones reminded me that fancy toys are largely unnecessary! I think it's safe to say this rule applies to adults, too. :)

Comments

[Mom]

Well stated !! :-)
Mom

[. tiny twist creative .]

Its so true, there is nothing better than enjoying the simple pleasures of nature. Glad your kids had so much fun!

[Laura]

This is such a good reminder! This summer, we are going take some small steps in this direction. Our kids are still allowed to watch TV and it drives me crazy that they want to plan their schedules around what's on TV. This summer, they've been warned that we are going to go a month and the TV will be unplugged the whole time. I'm also trying to make the time to enjoy something every day whether it is reading a book or something that I want to do in the garden.

[Lindsay]

Beautiful, and so true :) I've been too caught up in the future lately, I need to get back to the present - thanks for the inspiration!

[Obaitori]

A wonderful teaching. Great that you were open to it. I have a friend who used to always says, "We'll get there." Lately she has been practising living in the present moment & now her mantra reads, "We are here now." Thanks for sharing, your weblog is lovely. Great photo too, thanks for pointing out the pine cone, Katie