The Pleasure Principle

Amaryllises in the kitchen

Holiday beauties

Photo

Barbara Muir © 2020

I thought of something else I learned this year. In this time of continuous
gloom and doom, pleasure has never been more astounding. I have always
tried to live in the most positive way possible. But this year I’ve noticed that
all of the things I love that can still happen, seem easily 10 times more amazing.

Today we had a surprise visit from friends. I was heading out the front
door mask on expecting to see my son who was coming to borrow shop tools 
from my husband, and it was a couple of friends -- at the door and standing
on the sidewalk. We stood and talked, laughing and joking, and the whole
time I was aware that they could be getting cold – it is winter. But I had to
go and get Steven to come and say hi, because I knew he would be sad if he
missed their visit.

Are visits from friends we’ve rarely seen since March a big deal? Are you
kidding? So wonderful. And everything positive that happens in this strange
year has a heightened level of excitement to it. Seeing the youngest member
of our family dancing in our garden this afternoon wearing a mask -- easily12
feet away telling me to social distance was so much fun! Delightful.

The flowers in my photo tonight are amaryllises that I bought at the hardware
store. For some reason during the lockdown hardware stores are open and some
carry flowers. I always love amaryllises, but this year this exquisite flower feels
like a gift of the highest order. And that is the Pleasure Principle at work.

Have a noticing the Pleasure Principle day.