"And now for your blunders. On your own showing you first of all allowed the patient to read a book he really enjoyed, because he enjoyed it and not in order to make clever remarks about it to his new friends. In the second place, you allowed him to walk down to the old mill and have tea there—a walk through country he really likes, and taken alone. In other words you allowed him two real positive Pleasures. Were you so ignorant as not to see the danger of this? The characteristic of Pains and Pleasures is that they are unmistakably real, and therefore, as far as they go, give the man who feels them a touchstone of reality." -The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
My Real Pleasures: (some of them probably aren't so Real) -a good book, or series -writing -a non-cheesy movie (and sometimes the cheesy ones too) -brushing my teeth -chopsticks -a new journal or notebook -a nice library -whipped cream -strawberries -strawberries with whipped cream -a spontaneous day -waking up in the morning wondering where the day will take me -falling asleep thinking i couldn't have dreamed a better day (a rare occurance, of course) -wind -skirts... and clothes... but especially, skirts -skirts... and clothes... in the wind :-) -my haudralic destroyed jeans and my new jean capris -contrast -being pale -a "thin" day -looking sick (pale and thin, i'm thinking this isn't the Pleasure that is Real.) -that smell... (which will remain unexplained) -a freshly made bed -watercolor -a walk in a park -old stone architecture -summer rain -summer nights -cat's fur against bare skin -Rachel's laugh -Rachel's searching hand in the middle of the night, determining whether i'm still with her -crossing out items on a to do list (once they are done, of course) -shopping sprees -the unexpected (sometimes) -"tripping" into destiny -a smile, given or returned -a clear complexion -the effects of lotion -when a conversation or event seems to come straight out of a movie (or otherwise belongs in one) even if it's not a happy one -a long car ride with the right people. two is still the best, because then everyone is comfortable and no one is stuck in the backseat -living in a private world -a shower, after not showering for four days :)