beatrixjansen's Blog: Enjoying the simple Pleasures of Life

It's great walking around and feeling connected to your surroundings by enjoying the little pleasures,that touch you deeply and make you feel part of this beautiful space we live in.
This happens whenever we are walking or biking or enjoying any other outside activity.But what,when we are working ?Because most of us have our work and businesses to attend to.Can we only find pleasure and enjoyment when we are outside?
So I asked myself :"do I experience pleasure and joy in my work?"
It's amazing,what I came up for me.As a massage therapist I really,really enjoy my work.Most of my clients always say to me after a massage:"Aren't you feeling tired?":My answer is always:"believe it or not, I enjoyed every minute of it"And I mean it. I realize,that pleasure and enjoyment in my work, comes from the fact,that my client,who came in so stressed or in pain, asking me when we're done:"Do I really have to get up now?' "I don't think,that I have the strength,I feel so relaxed" Knowing ,that I made her day,that she enjoyed the treatment gives me enormous joy..Now in whatever I do, I look for the joy,.It gives so much more meaning to my work and everything else I engage in..Whatever you do in life,look for the joy and simple pleasures,they are right there, just pay attention and they will show themselves.

I am still savouring the awesome Inauguration of our new president.What a magical day and moment that was.So much
historical first .The elecrical energy of the people.who braced the cold to be part of this once in a lifetime occurrence.The solemnity of the presidential oath.The sincerity in his words,conveying hope,dignity,honesty and unlimited possibilities .Wow!
My next door neighbours invited me to share and enjoy this event together.We celebrated with food ,drinks and dessert.We were right there with the rest of the crowd,we clapped,we cried,we laughed,we jumped up and down.How can I describe my feelings and thoughts at that moment.Words cannot even get close to express what I was feeling.One thing, I can say is that I am inspired like never before.I am committed to be part of the change and the solution. A guest on the Oprah show said yesterday:"I feel like I am entering a new age",I do believe,that we are at the treshhold of amazing times to come.What a joyful moment that was,to feel the hope and the excitement of the crowd.Those were magical moments I will forever remember.My neighbours and I bonded more by our sharing of this event Simple pleasures can be found in anything we do.In our own simple way,we decided to share in the magic of those history making moments.

Today I would like to share some of my simple pleasures with you and invite you to share some of yours with me.
Some of my simple pleasures are:

Enjoying a walk with my dogs and watching their reaction and alertness to their surroundings.
Snuggling under the blanket and listening to the sound of the rain .
Listening to Andrea Boccelli's magical voice
Sitting by the ocean,listening to the soothing sounds of the rolling waves.
Watching buzzards soaring effortlessly through the blue sky as if they are performing a sensual dance ritual.
Looking at old pictures and reminiscing
Visualizing my dreams and desires.
Enjoying the magnificent colours of a miami sunset.
Walking and biking,while enjoying my surroundings.
Laughing myself silly when watching the reruns of the Carol Burnett show .
I am looking forward to yours.
Enjoy life's precious moments.the moment .

Beatrix

Childeren intuitively enjoy the simple pleasures in life.When you observe a child at play, it takes you into another world. Watching a child interact with the world around her or him there's so much we can learn about what's really important from them.
A very close and dear friend adopted two wonderful kids. The boy came first..Three hours after his birth ,she became a proud mother.The girl came about six months later after just one week of entering this world . I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with them,just enjoying their miraculous development.
They had toys galore,so that anytime I needed to buy a gift for birthdays or christmas ,it was a difficult task.
After one christmas ,when they were about three and two,they had received an assortment of toys.One day I walked in and here they were having the time of their life,with their nanny playing and having so much fun with.................
just a house made out of a huge box (from one of the christmas gifts).The nanny had cut out doors and windows in the box,they painted it and they were having a ball,going in and out of the box. All the expensive toys were laying around untouched. Writing and remembering this scene, I can still see them enjoying and laughing,sitting in the box as if it was the most beautiful house. Simple pleasures! Watching them collecting stones as if they were precious gifts,their enjoyment when we were playing hide and seek, their awe when watching the ducks in the lake in the park,were precious moments
And to think,that each one of us was a child once and instinctively knew to enjoy the pleasures of life,that are simple, free
and touch us deeply .Growing up somehow we have lost this gift and we look for pleasure in only that which we can acquire.When you buy the car of your dreams you feel proud ,powerful. When you replace it with maybe a more sophisticated one , you might feel a sense of great accomplishment and pride. What about the first car? It's completely forgotten and when we think about it by accident,we might say or think:"well,that was a great car,I liked it".
But now let's say you experience a spectacular sunset,that makes you tingle inside and brings up such powerful deep feelings and emotions ,that you get tears in your eyes and you feel without a doubt,that you are part of and connected to this wonderful universe.
I am sure,that long after this experience,whenever you remember that moment, those wonderful deep feelings and emotions will emerge and put a smile on your face and remind you of your connection with your source or God. Unlike the car which only is a nice memory.We lead such hectic lives ,that we don't take time to see and discover all the wonders around us.What really last are the feelings ,that will always make us realize that we are part of something greater than ourselves.And when all the material possessions are gone,those joyous feelings of the simple pleasures we enjoyed will still be there.

Since I started blogging about "Simple Pleasures",I am now constantly aware of moments of deep and special feelings in everything I do or in any situation I encounter.It has become like a mission for me.In the beginning I was afraid,that I would be running out of "Simple Pleasures" to write about and I am pleasantly surprised ,that I am getting more and more ideas or better said I find simple moments of pleasure everywhere and in most everything I do. Another major realization for me is ,that real,profound gratitude is always attached to the
"Simple Pleasures" in life.You cannot experience one without the other.
When listening to a beautiful piece of music or song,that moves me to tears,the feeling of gratitude in that moment is absolutely powerful.,beyond words.It will be hard to describe, but in that specific moment I feel the closest to God ,my Source and I cannot help,but to feel truly grateful for the experience. If I ever doubted that there is a force or energy greater and more powerful residing within my being, I now am certain,because I feel the connection..
How can I describe such a profound feeling? I really can't.
I am very grateful to Ellie,for guiding me to "Simple Pleasures".It has brought feelings and words out of me,that I never knew were there. I am enjoying the journey. Looking for "Simple Pleasures" around me on a daily basis is putting me in a constant gratitude mode and I feel the change in my life .I am inspired . I invite you to practise looking for these magical moments wherever you are.You will feel gratitude on a much deeper level and true blessings will enfold you always.

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Edited by beatrixjansen at 01/26/2009 3:39 AM EST

"Simple Pleasures" sometimes means connecting with another being, while nothing is being said.
This picture reminds me of a connection with a dear friend.
Just lying in the grass, enjoying the blue sky and watching the white clouds drifting by in silence..
We were connected in friendship and the peace around us. It was not necessary to say anything,We were there for hours,just being in the moment.
I often remember that instance and a smile comes to my face. It is a precious memory.
Often we think,that we have to talk and say something,but the power and bonding in the silence is much more intense than any words ,that we can say.
Have you ever felt such a deep connection with your child,your partner,friend(s) ,a loving pet,where words were not needed, but the connection was palpable?
I invite you to close your eyes and remember one of those special moments in your life, especially how it .It is all about feelings. Words"fly away",but feelings perdure.
Enjoy your journey.

When thinking of simple pleasures,I believe,that most people imagine a walk in nature or watching a spectacular sunset,etc..
As a massage therapist I love giving massages and making my clients feel completely relaxed,But what about me? Give me a long relaxing massage and I am in heaven.
A friend of mine said it best:"whatever you do to enhance your wellbeing is an investment in you". Since then ,whenever guilt might crop up I say to myself: "Beatrix,this is an investment in your health and welfare."
Who else would invest in my wellbeing if I don't ? The responsibility is mine ,to look and feel the best I can . I deserve it and I am worth it.I will live longer and healthier.
People invest in cars,in the stockmarket,in homes ,but cannot find the time to invest in their person.
Quite a few of my clients always put themselves on the back burner. Kids, husband and others always are taken care of first.I explain to them,that they owe it to themselves and their families to look and feel their best.They deserve to invest in their person. A thirty day month has 720 hours .A massage,a facial,a manicure or pedicure will take about one hour each.You will still have 719 hours left. Don't we deserve at least one hour to indulge in pampering ourselves?
If you are so stressed,that you get sick,who will take care of the family then? Take time for yourself .this is the greatest gift you can give to you and your family.When you
feel great you will be a much more pleasant wife,mother ,friend and co-worker.But most of all :YOU are worth it.
I invite you to share with me what you will do in the next few weeks to pamper yourself and invest in your person.
I had a manicure and pedicure today and I feel great.

I just had a good laugh,that made me feel happy inside.
Laughter is an easy and simple way to release tension and stress.One of the things in life,I very much enjoy is laughter.that resonates in your whole being.You can feel it in every fiber of your body.
After a reunion with good friends,where we just reminisce,remembering funny moments we enjoyed together and couldn't stop laughing ; I would get home in high spirits ,realizing,that laughter makes me feel happy and on top of the world.
I collect jokes and so now and then I open my joke-file and enjoy a laughter party all by myself. Thank God my dogs love me unconditionally!
I was born a and raised on an island,that is known for the happy nature of it's people.As far as I can remember laughter was and still is very important to us.
When I get together with my friends from home, I can assure you that we will be laughing alot.When I go home and all five sisters get together, a lot of laughing will be going on also. It's part of who we are.
I didn't know,what I was going to blog about today,until now..Writing about how I love to laugh makes me realize how important laughter is in my life.
Then awhile back I discovered,that laughter is very healing to our body and our soul. People have healed themselves by just indulging in watching funny videos and laughing until it hurt.Some doctors now believe in the healing power of laughter.
Have you ever laughed with so much gusto, that tears streamed down your face and you felt a good hurt inside?Well this" Simple Pleasure" of intense laughter is a healing force.All your organs,blood,arteries,your whole inside is laughing and experiencing high,intense,positive vibrations,that brings about healing.
A good laughter replaces any medicine and I am all for that.
You might think,that I am crazy,but many times reading a funny joke,that someone send me,makes me burst out laughing by myself ,that people walking by might think that I have company. I even laugh in my sleep,and I know,that I am laughing,but cannot stop. The more I try to stop,the more I keep laughing and it's not that I am dreaming. I Sometimes wonder what my dogs must be thinking!
I never thought,that I could write this much, about laughter.I am sure though, that by now you understand ,that laughter is extremely important to me.It's not that I make myself laugh for nothing,it is that I really love to laugh.
A friend of mine Vi,my roommate,when we go to our company's convention is my laughing partner.We laugh from the moment we get together until we say goodbye.She lives in Kentucky and just called me a few hours ago ,laughing her head off, telling me about her ordeal with the ice storm.She had me in stitches relating how her and her husband were trying to keep warm Someone else might have called to complain,but here she was laughing so hard,hardly able to talk because she wanted to share the fun she was having,despite being
in the dark for three days without electricity.
I also remember when two friends and myself were traveling to a Spiritual retreat in Alabama.From the moment we met at the airport we laughed until we returned Everyone else were sitting with straight faces and here we were the three of us laughing until we couldn't take it anymore.What were we laughing about? I don't remember,but what I won't forget is how much fun we had.
Give yourself the "Simple Pleasure" of a good laughter as often as you can.it is very healing and contagious.You could laugh yourself into a long,healthy life with many friends to share your company, because people enjoy being around happy people.

Since I started blogging about "Simple Pleasures', I am learning ,that there is so much more to this concept,than just enjoying magical moments. I was wondering what I would like to share in my next blog. When I woke up this morning, my first thought was:"what's my blog,for today". It's funny, because this comes from someone,who had a resistant to blogging.
On the spur of the moment I decided to go to Whole Foods to buy a couple of things and after that, visit my regular grocery store,Publix. I went into Publix to purchase only three items,but of course ended up with a few more.
At the cash register I realized,that I was short a few dollars. Suddenly the lady waiting behind me said:"How much do you need, I have it and want to pay for It."
To say the least I was flabbergasted and looked at her and said:Thank you,I do appreciate it,but I will come back,it's just,that I bought more than I intended to, and I didn't bring my checkbook."
She said:" I'd really be happy to do this " and I could hear the sincerity in her voice and it touched my heart deeply. I said to her again:"Thank you,but more than the money, your willingness to help fills me with gratitude and it means much more to me,than the money, you made my day." And I blessed her.
I Introduced myself and she did the same and we connected on a soul level .Her name is Chris and I will never forget her.This was a "Simple Pleasure" moment for me.
Sharing this right now,my eyes are teary and I can see the whole scenario in my minds eye.When I walked out of the store,I thanked God for this wonderful experience,that filled my heart with so much joy and made me realize how many loving, caring people there are in this world.
This experience will stay with me always and make me feel good inside anytime I remember it. Next time I am in line behind someone,who might experience a similar situation I know,that I will offer my help,if the person chooses to accept it.
I didn't accept her offer,because,the few things I left behind,were not necessities.
A complete stranger was willing to come to my rescue.What a great way to start of the day. I feel blessed.

When you decide to go out for a walk and you notice things around that inspire you and sometimes even give you goosebumps, it is a wonderful experience. It lifts up your spirits; and doubts and misgivings you might have had before disappear.
Want to double your pleasure and feelings of joy ? Invite a friend or friends to go on a walk with you . .
Why not get a few like-minded friends together and decide to meet once a week,every two weeks or even once per month and share moments of pleasure.You will give your friends a wonderful gift and you will double your own joy by sharing with others.

Recently I watched a documentary on Public Television about the relationship between man and his pets,namely dogs and cats.
I have three dogs ,they are rescues., All the dogs I've had were discarded or abused or let go .They are the best friends I have, because they don't care what I look like,how much money I have, if my house is small or large, they are with me no matter what.They don't judge me or criticize me. They truly accept me for who I am. I remember after my house was destroyed by hurricane Andrew,my two dogs at the time didn't care,that I was homeless. When I couldn't find a place to stay with them I decided to come back into my home,even though it was deemed unsafe. No hot water,no electricity,a makeshift roof by a caring soul,a small ,folding bed borrowed from a friend.
It was November and cold. The plastic replacing the roof was making so much noise during the night and when it rained ,the only place dry was where the bed was.
The three of us huddled together on that bed, I still don't know how we did it, because ,the bed was pretty narrow.They were by my side though through thick and thin.
All the pet owners in the film had such a wonderful connection to either their dog or cat and it gave me such pleasure to see grown up men showing so much love and tenderness toward their pets.
The expert trainer in the film explained,that cats appeal to our mind side and dogs to our emotional side. And she explained that the way we treat our pet has a lot to do with our personality.A husband and wife had a complete different relationship with their dog.The dog could get away with anything by him, but as soon as the wife came home,she imposed rules and the dog obeyed. By asking questions the trainer found out,that the husband was the middle child and loved to be carefree and the wife was the oldest of her siblings and had to be the responsible one.
There was one man that explained that he was saved from drinking himself to death because of his cat. While he was drinking himself to destruction for hours,no matter what ,when he opened the door,the cat was sitting there waiting for him.The cat cared about him drunk or not and this act of unconditional love
made him decide to stop drinking and get his life together.
The pleasure my dogs give me some people might not understand and I can't explain it and it is ok..My two males are by my side no matter where I am, When I am taking a shower,one of them is lying in front of the shower door until the sound of the running water stops. When I am in the kitchen they are lying right there watching me. For me the only difference with us humans is,that they cannot talk with words,but when you really care about your animal friend you can understand them perfectly.They love you for who you are,unconditionally. It touches me very deeply,when I see a homeless person walking with his dog.The dog doesn't care,that they live under a bridge,he just loves this man and stays by his side no matter what.The joy my dogs give me daily is a priceless gift.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of being invited to the USA premiere of a Dutch movie titled: "Love is All." The movie
was excellent,it was both humorous and profound.
I met with friends and enjoyed a very pleasant evening.The message of the movie was, that in the end all that matters is Love.It looked at love in the lives of several people ,both singles and couples.
What happens in the beginning and at the end is of no consequence, what happens in between is what really matters.There were wonderful messages throughout the presentation.We laughed alot and also had tears in our eyes
at times.Driving home and thinking about some of the episodes in the movie I realized,that indeed "Love is all."
The intense feeling of connection with nature, is love for God's creation.The magical moments spent with friends , is love.The feeling of joy watching a magnificent sunset, is love. Looking into my dogs' eyes and seeing so much pure devotion, is love.I can keep on going,
In the end these are the feelings,that stay in your heart and soul. When the time comes for us to leave this earth,what do you think you will recall? All the money you made or how successful you were, the big house you built? I don't think so,At that moment I believe we will recall the things that touched us most,the love of our family and friends,the good and fun times we spend together,the people ,who cared enough about us to give us their support,the friend ,who helped us through a difficult situation with love and dedication as long as needed.When we see that homeless person and our heart goes out to him,,that's love.When we give a smile to a stranger and his or her eyes lighten up.That's love.This is the kind of Love,that Jesus talked about. That's why ":what happens in the beginning or at the end doesn't matter." What matters is how we live our life in between the beginning and the end. What matters is how much love we spread around in that space. At the end that's all we will remember and take with us.For me the most important is to know,that I gave love freely and with joy.When we experience the simple pleasures and magical moments in life,that's pure love in action.

My best liked season,Spring is only weeks away and it is the perfect time to really enjoy the "Simple Pleasures" and "Magical Moments" around us.It is a time for joyful discoveries.
Isn't it a wonderful feeling,to see the flower bulbs you planted way back,suddenly burst through the earth and blessing you with beautiful flowers?
Discovering,that a favourite plant,you thought was dead, is showing small ,new leaves is exciting.
Birds are coming back singing their most beautiful songs Butterflies in the most gorgeous array of colors are fluttering around and are a pleasure to behold.Squirrels are chasing each other ,jumping from tree to tree.
Isn't this a wonderful world?
Spring symbolizes hope. Nature is a great teacher.Just like the "awakening" of Spring,we can awaken the desires and goals buried deep inside of us and share these wonderful gifts with the world.This will enrich our lives and the lives of those we touch everyday
What a wonderful world indeed we live in.

I really do enjoy the "simple Pleasures" in life.I do believe,that it's one of my real passions.Yesterday my friend ,who lives in Tennessee called and needed to share something ,that happened to her.
She lives around Gatlinburg on top of a mountain,she is an animal lover and has three dogs , a parrot and two cats.
Several days ago,her and her husband were on their way to Asheville,just for the day,they do this once a week.They were driving through the National Park,when suddenly,they saw this beautiful,big dog running very scared.They realized that she was lost.Of course they stopped.Her husband called and the dog came immediately to him.They looked around and waited to see if anyone would come looking for the dog.When nothing happened,my friend opened the car door and she jumped right in and lay down as if she belonged.
They drove on to Ashville,went to lunch,got the dog water and food and kept checking on her in the car.She was just lying down relaxed.
They decided to take her home,but were somewhat concerned about the reaction of the other pets,especially their female, Roxy.
They remembered what Cesar,the dog whisperer taught to do when you bring a new dog home.
They were shocked the dogs accepted her,the new dog ,as if she belonged.They couldn't believe it,The dog acted,as if she had always been part of their household.
They called her Shaina.
The reasons I am telling you this story are several.
First: my friend said,that they saw a truck drive into the park and turn around and they believe,that they must have
left the dog there and he was trying to run after the truck.Very sad.
Second my friend said,that usually,they would drive from their house straight to Ashville,but that morning,they had to stop for gas and another errand.If they didn't have to make those stops,they would not have seen the dog.
Third, just a few days before ,she told her husband,that when they got another dog,that she would like to get an older dog ,between one and three years old.And Shaina is between one and three.
There are no coincidences in life and my friend attracted the dog she wanted,even though she didn't plan on it so fast.
I love this story,because I love dogs,but also because there are some great lessons in it.
I felt like sharing this miracle story. Shaina couldn't have found a better home.

As I wrote in a few of my blogs, laughter is very important to me.It makes me feel alive and lifts up my spirit..
When I read this today I got the feeling that I wanted to share this with you. No matter how I tried to find another subject to write about ,it kept nagging at me.
I hope it makes you laugh as much as it did me.
The moral of this story????????
Enjoy!

"Eleven People On a Rope:

>Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter.
>10 men and 1 woman.
>The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, So they decided that one
>had to leave, Because otherwise they were all going to fall.
>They weren't able to choose that person, Until the woman gave a very
>touching speech.
She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman,
she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids or for men in
general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.
As soon as she finished her speech,
All the men started clapping . . . ...........................