Have you
noticed lately how you may have become consumed by all that is around you?
Whether that may be meeting deadlines on work related projects or seemingly running
ragged from one event to another with your children. One must question
sometimes, "Why does life always have to be so complex and full of hustle
and bustle?" In reality, it doesn't have to feel this way. We need
to remember the times when and where things were much simpler. Why is it
that when we grow older we forget those things, or at least forget to act on
them. In our fast paced world, it is important to stop once in a while
and take stock of the simple things. As fathers and families it is important to
actively participate and cherish the simple pleasures of life. To quote
American screenwriter Frank Howard Clark; "Everyone is trying to
accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of the simple
things". Simple pleasures surround us. Simple pleasures have
little to no cost. We just have to be willing to look around and spend
time in the moment.
In previous
columns, I have discussed the importance and joy of being a father. I
have challenged readers to take the opportunity to engage with their children
in a variety of activities, many of which allowed us to revisit our own inner
child and enjoy memorable moments. We have spoken of the importance, even
statistically, of being involved as a father, and asking questions such as,
"why do we do what we do?” We have discussed that being an involved
dad has a dramatic impact on your child's education and career. We have spoken
about the most precious commodity that we can share with our children is you;
your time, your love. However, at times we unknowingly have taken simple
pleasures for granted, or at the minimum failed to recognize them.
How often
have you taken your car through the automatic car wash lately? If you are
anything like we are, thanks to the "just wait five minutes to
change" Ohio weather, it is likely that you have visited quite frequently.
If you have, I hope you have taken your child(ren) and really spent time in the
moment. Believe me, your kids notice. It had been a long time since I
really had thought about a car wash being this exciting and such a fun time,
but certainly my children helped to jog my memory. Kendall and Reese can
tell you every cycle and when it is about to begin. There is something simple
about the changing colored foaming soap that is sprayed on your car that makes
them smile. When they start giggling, begin doing play by play, and
turning heads to look while uttering the words, "here it comes on my
side", with the excitement of Dick Vitale, Gretchen and I find we can't
help but find ourselves joining in. We are able to enjoy a simple pleasure
while listening to the kids describe in great detail, a simple pleasure.
Is it bad that the girls know the difference between car washes
location by location based on the colors and the perfume in the soap? It's not
bad if you enjoy living in the moment. It's not bad if you enjoy simple
pleasures.
While
discussing with Gretchen what she thought might be some other simple pleasures
in which we may have failed to be in the moment, being the intelligent lady
that she is, she stated that we should just ask the girls. Great advice.
So with that we spent time with the girls listening as they shared with
us some of their simple pleasures. After some discussion, we decided we
would make a top ten list. If you go back to what I stated in a previous
article, about spending time with family, you guessed it, spending time
building this list was a simple pleasure I simply
refused to miss.
So here it
is. The girls’ “Top Ten Simple Pleasures List” in no specific order.
1. Automatic Car Wash visits from
Coshocton to New Philadelphia
2. Bob
Evans curbside service $1.99 Kids French Toast Meal with extra whip cream
3. Coloring/Drawing pictures to be
hung on home refrigerator and daddy's office
4. Lee Jane's cookies on the way to
school
5. Homemade birthday cards and gifts
(Mommy just recently celebrated hers)
6. Playing ball after school with
Sallie (big hit for Reese)
7. Getting hand stamps and giving hugs
to Miss Jennifer and class assistants after dance
8. Having McDonalds breakfast with Papa and Big Bob after church (Reese's
pick)
9. Having hot chocolate and sharing cookies
before Sunday school with daddy (Kendall's pick)
10. Telling knock-knock jokes (both like
to make them up and share with us)
I
challenge you to make time to reflect back on your simple pleasures. It is likely that you will be
amazed at all of the things that were discovered in those moments that have
helped shape who you are as a father and as a family. No doubt it can be
difficult to initially notice the simple pleasures that surround you,
especially at the fast pace many live at today.
However, trust me, you won’t regret slowing down and taking the time to
participate in a simple pleasure with your child. Challenge yourself to
find more of those moments daily, I promise you won’t regret it. Life is made
up of many simple pleasures, so don’t let them pass you by unnoticed!
Monthly
Quote: "It's the simple things in life that mean the most, and it's the
simple things that will make the big things seem bigger." - Unknown
Monthly
Challenge: List and discuss your families simple pleasures. Take time to
recall the really simple things that continue to put a smile on your face and
the face of others.
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