Sing a Happy Song Everyday!

by Joyce-Anne Locking

What greater pleasure can be experienced than to feel the warmth of the sun in winter or the cool refreshing breeze of summer? The beauty of a bush or a flower can only be reproduced as an imitation. The original nature of the fresh flower is available to us for such a short time. Life is full of so many stimulating colours and sights. We want to see the beauty around us and absorb its lasting benefits.

Small pleasures of life are offered to us daily in unique and generous ways. A daily walk is never the same twice when we consider our surroundings are as constantly changing as the weather. The way the light hits a small tree can be noticed each time we pass and it can be noted that nature is always producing a fresh picture for our entertainment.

When we take time for life's small pleasures each day, we receive these things that give us true nourishment. These wonderful moments are still free for everyone to enjoy. They needn't take up much time at all but the longer we look at a beautiful scene, the greater the reward to us seems to be. Soon we'll find ourselves doing something creative and passing on this recreating moment to others. It may be a painting, a story, a laugh or a song, or it may be done in ways we ourselves do not recognize as being related to the small pleasures of nature we have previously enjoyed. We might feel more generous, more outgoing, more confident or more approachable. Every day is a fresh new canvas to fill with whatever we choose. When we take some time to refill our spirits with the power of the beauty around us, we, and all those surrounding us, will be greatly benefited by the experience.

During one of my walks I looked up to discover the rooftops of two houses completely covered in fat, brown birds. It seems they were congregating there to discuss their future, or perhaps they were just soaking up the warm winter sun. It is always a welcoming sight to find the birds becoming more visible after the long winter. I call this flock of feathered friends a symphony of song. With such a large group together, I could just imagine the beautiful music they could make. There had to be over a hundred birds on each housetop! Were they all to burst into song at once, I know it would be a delightful sound. When I walked by, however, the birds were so quiet a person might never know they were there. Birds never cease to amaze me and inspire my thoughts. The most interesting thing about them is they don't own anything apart from their instincts and impulses; yet, they are able to survive and continue to sing.