By Larry Simoneaux
It being Monday morning, I thought I’d try to help you start the week on a good note and, maybe, give you a bit of a mental lift to go along with your coffee.
What follows are a few things that might just put you into a frame of mind where the morning commute won’t have you gripping your steering wheel as tightly or muttering things to yourself that are better left muttered rather than spoken (see also: shouted) aloud.
That said, the following need no explanation. They’re things we’ve all seen, heard, felt, thought, or even smelled that are so inherently good that, when seen, heard, felt, thought or smelled, the first thought that comes to mind is “Darn, that’s good.” And, then, we find ourselves feeling a bit better. Smiling, even.
They fall into no particular category and can occur at any time. They can be experienced alone or with others. They may seem mundane. Still, they’re common to all of us and are, when noticed, pleasant beyond words.
So … try calling up any of the following from your memory banks without just a hint of a smile:
The smell of bacon cooking in the morning.
The sound that soft rain makes on a quiet, still night.
Sunsets seen over water.
The taste of a cold glass of lemonade on a hot August afternoon.
The look on a child’s face while catching their first fish.
The serenity of a mother feeding her baby in a quiet, darkened room.
Barbershops on a Saturday morning.
Evenings spent sitting on a porch talking with friends and neighbors.
The laughter of a group of children playing together.
A father’s expression when he sees his first child.
The smell of freshly baked bread.
Seeing the colors of the first flowers of spring.
Sunrises on cold, crisp mornings.
Being with family at Thanksgiving.
The smell of a newborn baby.
Church services on Christmas morning.
The cool breeze that occurs just before a summer thunderstorm.
Quiet moments between a husband and wife after the kids are asleep.
The sounds of a train passing in the distance.
The taste of a watermelon so sweet and cold it makes your teeth ache.
The sound of wind passing through trees.
Football games on a cool autumn afternoon.
The feel of warm fire on a cold night.
The first sight of home after a long absence.
Relaxing in a hot bath.
Fireflies any time.
The smell of a good barbecue.
Having your child walk up and hug you for no reason.
You fill in the rest. There’s a good breeze happening as I write this and I’m going to just go outside and enjoy it.
Take it easy on the way to work today. Turn on the radio, find some good music and just hum along.
And maybe even smile.
Even if just for a bit.
Larry Simoneaux lives in Edmonds. Send comments to larrysim@comcast.net.
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