So I was listening to the Homemaker Chic podcast the other day, and the topic of Queen Elizabeth and her afternoon tea ritual came up. The discussion centered around how she shows moderation in her dietary choices, but she enjoys afternoon tea — snacks included — each day without guilt.
This got me thinking about the French and how they view food similarly. Maybe this isn’t limited to the Queen and the French. Perhaps it’s a European thing. I’m not sure, but what I do know is that we Americans don’t have it.
Nope. We rarely use moderation when we eat, and when we do eat something we define as indulgent, we feel guilty about it. Foodies and healthy eaters included. This isn’t limited to those who eat a Standard American Diet. I know I can easily eat way more than I should when I sit down to a meal.
Anyway, all of this got me thinking.
In general, I think the French (and perhaps other Europeans) have a different mindset than we do. Food equals nourishment, and there’s rarely an emotional attachment to it. And while that is true for the most part, food can also equal pleasure. Food can be used to celebrate, honor, and connect with others.
The key is moderation and balance in all things, and this, friends, is how I strive to live my life, for the most part.
So all of this got me thinking about the little pleasures I build into my life. Not just food pleasures, but other pleasures as well.
If you are a stay-at-home mom — heck, even if you’re a working mom — you know just how mundane life can be sometimes. It’s so easy for us to get into a rhythm in our lives and move through the motions of the day, allowing the same ole thing to happen day in and day out.
Now I’m not saying rhythms are bad. I love rhythms because they provide boundaries while allowing for freedom. However, they can make life feel boring if we let them.
To counter this in my life, I have built in some little pleasures into my day. These pleasures go beyond food. They encompass a lot of things I enjoy throughout the day. They provide little breaks in my day, breaking up the monotony, and giving me something to look forward to.
Things like:
- Listening to a podcast while working out
- Bird watching while sipping my morning coffee and reading the Word
- Listening to a seasonal playlist while doing morning chores
- Taking a mid-morning walk to spend some time in nature by myself
- Watching educational YouTube channels or older TV shows filled with good values during lunch every now and then
- Laying on the hammock with my love while the kiddos play nearby after lunch on warm days
- A cup of tea and a little sweet snack before starting afternoon group work
- Having a half-glass of wine as I make dinner
- Listening to an audiobook while I make dinner
- Taking a bath and reading a book on a cold evening
- Cuddling with my hubbie while he rubs my back and we watch a show before bed
- An unplanned Saturday morning trips to the farmer’s market and local nursery
- Choosing to eat out instead of making dinner
- Going for a drive on the country backroads when Dean gets home from work
- Walking through my gardens to see what’s new
I’m sure there are so many more little pleasures in my day that I’m not thinking of. I guess my point is that it pays to be mindful of the pleasurable parts of our days and to add more little pleasures if there aren’t enough of them.
Working from home is tough. Doing it day in and day out with kids isn’t easy either. Add on the responsibilities of homeschooling and managing a home on top of all of the above, and it can make your days feel crazy sometimes.
Little pleasures are a must! Am I right?
I’d love to hear what little pleasures you look forward to that break up the monotony of your days in the comments below!
Love and light,
Meagan