‘Go smell the roses’ is the advice given to those who, in the frantic business of ‘getting and spending’, as the poet Wordsworth puts it, have forgotten that true happiness often comes from the small things in life.

Yes, it comes from the littlest things. Never mind the grammatical infraction– I’ve taken this liberty to emphasise the point that the small things in life, no matter how small, ordinary, humble, mundane or insignificant, no matter how unnoticed or unappreciated, can bring the most enduring pleasure if only we become aware of them.

Forget about the roses—they are not that small, insignificant, ordinary. They are not always around. Besides they cost money!

Have you ever thrilled to the smell of freshly cut grass? Of the aroma of piping hot coffee as you raise it gingerly to your lips? Of the sight of the newspaper on your doorstep, promise of a whole morning’s worth of news, chat, juicy gossip? Of the significantly improved taste in the assam laksa soup because you experimentally added some sardine?

Have you experienced the special satisfaction when your memory, normally a laggard when it comes to people’s names, suddenly becomes co-operative at a social function, so that you could go up confidently to an acquaintance and greet him by name? And watch his surprised and pleased look that you remembered?

The deep sense of well-being upon waking after a good night’s sleep, feeling more refreshed than usual?

The delight, mixed with relief, of seeing that awful patch of brownish pigment on your left cheek, vanish completely upon just one application of the ‘concealer’ you had reluctantly bought at the persuasion of the sales assistant at the cosmetics counter?

The delight, invariably accompanied by smiles and laughter, of returning the flying kiss of a friendly baby? And being told by the baby’s mother, ‘Usually he isn’t so friendly!’

The delicious sense of victory in swatting down that dratted fly that had been defiantly buzzing around?

The incomparable sensuousness of an ice-slaked thirst, a scratched back, a completed sneeze?

---

About Vignettes...

A continuing flow of little, readable pieces that will constitute what I feel is an important 'legacy of values' to leave behind. Read more about Vignettes...