According to Martha Stewart, her idea of perfect happiness is “A verdant landscape filled with beautiful animals of all kinds, harp music,cumulus clouds in a bright blue sky, and happy people conversing pleasantly, sipping cold sake from homemade bamboo cups”.

Is she kidding?

Why do I find myself feeling sorry for her?

Perfect happiness is any singular simple pleasure. Sometimes two happen at once and it is blissful. After that, convergence of too much pleasure can cancel the simple pleasures out.

Here is a simple but partial  list for Martha(I don’t think we can save her though);

the   morning sun coming through the window this minute

the sound of the coffee maker

a  little squeeze of a baby’s bum

hard work followed by play

a hot shower

tulips

laughing hard

solid disagreements

croissants

making someone  laugh

a good cry

weather

a perfect playlist

kissing

coming in from the cold

the smell of fresh cut grass

daisies

communication

cake

spoiling your children in ways you feel good about

clean sheets

well appointed swearing

questions answered

answers questioned

helping

bare-feet

garbage day

the crackle of birch in the fire

swimming  in cold lakes on hot days

being really hungry when you sit down to eat a good meal

Monday mornings

Friday nights

deep sleep

All of these things are easy to come by.  Maybe perfect happiness is  as simple as  being aware. Martha can’t see past the staff and the stuff.

(send me your list-I would love to see it)