Why Small Pleasures Become A Bigger, Not Smaller Deal, The More We Suffer & Age

It all comes down to…

Perspective

As we age, we often develop a deeper appreciation for small, everyday moments—this video mentions the examples (amongst others) of enjoying a piece of chocolate, taking a walk, or spending time with a friend. These undramatic experiences tend to gain significance over time, even as one continues to encounter a wide range of places, people, and events. In contrast, youth is often marked by a desire for excitement, achievement, and grand experiences— sometimes at the cost of less attention being paid to the subtleties of daily life.

It’s not always about age itself, though, and this shift in perspective can come much sooner (or later!) for some than others, as it’s shaped in large part by life’s challenges. Difficult experiences—such as personal loss, illness, or financial crises—can lead us to value what is steady, peaceful, or modest. What once seemed mundane is seen differently by those who have navigated adversity, as a deeper awareness of life often emerges through contrast.

Writer’s anecdote: once upon a time when I was a 18, I became homeless. I wasn’t homeless for long in the grand scheme of things, a couple of months before I found myself a footing. But, for those months I was on the streets in the middle of a cold winter with literally nothing but the inadequate clothes I wore, no money whatsoever, and this was of course before smartphones and such. And even though it wasn’t a long time, it still affects me even after decades have passed, because to this day I often appreciate just watching the rain on my window from my warm dry house, and having a pantry stocked with food when I remember, all those years ago, sleeping cold and wet in the most ridiculous places, or an occasion of being glad to find a literal crust of stale bread on the sidewalk.

The point is, life can be hard, and yet here we are, living it, so let’s take a moment to “smell the roses” from time to time along our way. And yes, even when life has its thorns too! Because of course we’ll suffer sometimes at every age, sometimes even terribly. But where there is life, there is possibility, and there is beauty to be found.

For philosopher Alain de Botton’s words on all this (well, not about this writer’s life, but the rest of it), enjoy:

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Take care!