If This Isn't Nice, I Don't Know What Is

[My Uncle Alex] was well-read and wise. And his principal complaint about other human beings was that they so seldom noticed it when they were happy. So when we were drinking lemonade under an apple tree in the summer, say, and talking lazily about this and that, almost buzzing like honeybees, Uncle Alex would suddenly interrupt the agreeable blather to exclaim, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is." -- Kurt Vonnegut

Beautiful.

I definitely think it's all about appreciating the details; the small things. When the sun goes down a few minutes later than the day before, giving you a few more moments of light. The smell of freshly washed linens. Getting an unexpected surprise in the mail from a friend. When you laugh so hard that you cry. Finding a great book at a used book sale. Getting goosebumps while listening to music. Beautiful sunsets. The smell of rain, or when it rains while it's sunny (sunshower).

I can't wait for the flowers to return

(Taken: 6/6/10. Alexandria, VA)

It's nice to stop and remind yourself to appreciate all the little things or all the things that go right. Today I was appreciative of the 75 degree weather (! - Why can't February always be like this?!). And getting barbecue from a food truck with Eagan, and enjoying our lunch on the sun-drenched steps of an art museum. And trying a red pummelo (sometimes spelled pomelo. It's the largest citrus fruit!) for the first time. And having Joe Dassin's "Les Champs-Élysées" come on my ipod while I'm walking home -- a perfect song for a sunny stroll (the song is so sunny and silly and giddy). And having a security guard tell me I have really pretty eyes. And having great conversations with friends. And having the windows open in the house.

Our ability to stop and appreciate these little things brings life such pleasure.