Finding joy in small things

The sound of a sudden gust of breeze blowing through trees.?The leaves wake up and rustle. Branches sway and creak ever so gently. Birds that were singing their song somehow meld together into a medley that seems to complement the wind instrument’s gentle caress of the trees. Truly an orchestra at work. And the baritone bull bellows in the background while Cookie lets out a few whines. The whispering sound of the breeze rippling through the trees like a running stream brings me joy. It takes me back to carefree childhood summer holidays spent in the beautifully manicured gardens of my youth.

A strong cup of freshly brewed coffee.?The aroma is uplifting and while I have taught myself to enjoy it black, on occasion a dash of milk and a spoonful of sugar takes me back to places I long to go. A crisp cold mountain morning. Just as the first rays of sun touch the water and the fish start rising. A coffee break to unfreeze the fingers and in days bygone freeze the lungs with a cloud of smoke. A post-prandial coffee after a lovely meal and a hearty conversation. A lot happens over a good cup of coffee.

A beautiful sky,?filled with clouds that change shapes as they billow by.?First, I spot a Cookie face then I see Biscuit. Sometimes I spot Honey, other times it’s Lucky or Lizzie on occasion Midge pops her head out from behind a bigger cloud. I see all the lovely doggies that have cheered up my life, as they race by, having fun in the sky.

The sound of birds?takes me to different corners of this beautiful world. Sometimes I am sitting on the veranda at one of the estates I have grown up on. Others I am on the balcony of the Madras club apartment that my grandparents were blessed to enjoy. Occasionally on a walk through Tranquil or back home at Amaryllis. Each sound seems to be connected to a different switch and as if by magic I can revisit these lovely places, all it takes is the call of a bird.

Then there is the absolute pleasure of watching?the antics of squirrels. The speed with which they dash around. Suddenly stopping, to do I know not what, and they are off again. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone but always on a mission, it seems. Cookie seems equally captivated by their energy and I am drawn once again to so many happy places. My childhood where Fedders and Lloyd were discovered, in a nest built in an air conditioner by the same name. Boarding school, where I had a pet squirrel that lived in my shirt and was smuggled around for weeks without the watchful eyes of teachers catching on. To walks in the parks around the world and shared memories with family and friends who have shared these special moments. A pair runs playfully up the trunk of a tree. One stops and twitches its tail, the other looks deep into its eyes for a minute. A moment when time stood still and then off they went up into the branches, soon to head their separate ways. Maybe they will unite again, maybe not.

I never realised how much joy these and a myriad of other small things bring to my life. Some of my friends who sent me birthday wishes saw this in me. As I sat watching my birthday video a few days ago, so many of my well-wishers who seem to know me better than I know myself, pointed this out to me. Friends from all phases of my life, some who don’t know each other, see in me the ability to take pleasure in simple things. Something I have never seen in myself till they brought this simple gift to my attention.

In the world of communication too, this insight holds strong. The simple yet powerful insight, the simple and focused objective, the simple and resonant message and the simple and easy UI/UX are at the core of changing minds and behaviours.?This kind of clarity and focus is not simple to arrive at, it is a complex process and takes hard work. Navigating through this maze to arrive at the simple output and outcome is where amazing work happens.?Connecting people to things they care about is at the heart of connecting with them.

As I list a few of my favourite things, it becomes clear to me they all transport me to happy places and happy memories. This is the truth that lies at the intersection of my work and my?life. A good a time as any, to remind myself that?happiness lies in simple things. Small joys are the big ones?and it seems that I am blessed with the ability to enjoy this bounty. Life is good. Keep it simple.