Pausing: An Underrated Pleasure
Mark Watson is away. Today’s stand in guest blogger is Corry (the Scottish one)
So you may notice that I am not John who was going to be the guest blogger today. He may still appear in which case this blog will either be removed and replaced or you lucky readers will get two blogs today. Brief explanation, I have been updating the website with the guest blogs on Mark’s behalf but as yet I have not heard from John and as Mark is still in Africa, or on a plane he is not answering his phone. So in the spirit of ensuring that a blog goes up every day for 10 years I thought I would share some of my views on pleasure.
What gives pleasure is a very subjective notion. For example almost 4 million people are Facebook fans of Justin Bieber, 23,798 people are fans of the BNP and 3,518 people are fans of spiders. That is a lot of people taking pleasure in things that I find abhorrent.
Pleasure seems to come in a variety of flavours, from the sensuous to the intellectual, from the kinky to the guilty. But my personal favourite pleasures are the small ones, the smell of warm tarmac, the taste of hot buttered toast, the feeling you get when you finish a really good book.
I tend not to spend enough time pausing to take comfort in these small everyday pleasures. I run my own business and as such tend to always be busy, always rushing from one thing to the next with my mind filled with to-do lists and schedules. Occasionally something will happen that stops me in my tracks and reminds me that every single day something will happen that I should pause for and appreciate.
In the past month life has thrown me a couple of curve balls, my mother has Cystic Fibrosis and is very poorly just now, her outlook is always pragmatic yet positive. Rather than looking at the possibility of a heart and lung transplant as a scary thing she is talking about all the things she will be able to do if the transplant is successful, none of these things are particularly adventurous or exciting, I’m glad to report she is not planning a bungee jump. It’s the small things that she is looking forward to, being able to walk round the Botanical Gardens without getting out of breath, revisiting the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. Small pleasures that for the most part we all take for granted.
Having spent some time back home listening to my mothers happy expectations of the pleasures to come I have been jolted into making some changes to my life, which include taking the time to rejoice in the small things that bring me happiness. I have spent more time with friends, I have stopped dead in the middle of the street to stare up at the stars, I am even planning a trip to the duck pond to feed the swans, which in my opinion is the most relaxing thing to do in the world.
These small pleasures are the things that keep us sane, that keep us smiling even when the big things are going a bit wrong.
Whoever you are, and where ever you are sitting reading this blog take a moment. Take a breath, look around you there will be something near you that will bring you a small pleasure, maybe your cats curled up on your knee, maybe you can spot a book on a shelf that you loved, perhaps there is a blackbird hopping around in your garden. Maybe all it is is that you can see Mark Watson’s smiling face next to the body of this blog. There is always something nearby that can bring you pleasure, just take the time to look for it and when you find it revel in it, enjoy it and share it with someone else. Life is too short to miss out on the all the glorious details.
Posted by Corry Shaw on November 22, 2011
http://www.justgiving.com/Corry-Shaw
Posted by Corry Shaw on November 22, 2011
Hey, I’m not sure how many will see this but I thought I should update you. On the 5th of November my mum had her double lung transplant. She is still in hospital recovering but is doing really well and they are hoping to let her home soon. Good things do happen.
Keep pausing to take them all in. xx
Posted by Knox on May 23, 2011
Aw Corry – I’ll share a small pleasure with you – I got a massive warm glow at the football shambles gig when you recognised me as a lifer :0)
Thanks so much for this blog – it made me tear up a little, and made me smile a lot. The ‘stopping to stare up at the stars’ comment made me grin, as I’ve been known to do that on a number of occasions. This is one of those ‘print and carry it round with you’ blogs, just a little reminder/pick-me-up that’s nice to have a look at every now and then.
I really hope your Mum got heaps better, and she’s been zooming around the Botanical Gardens with the greatest of ease. I’ve no idea what your ma looks like, but I’m imagining a just slightly older looking you – I’m taking a moment now to visualise that – her feet barely skimming the ground, sort of Mary Poppins stylee, as she makes her way through the Gardens…
Posted by corry's mum on May 19, 2010
thank you for your wishes and good thoughts. Look up and look close,beauty is everywhere. My biggest small pleasure is my girl.
Posted by Kate B on May 18, 2010
Really lovely blog! It really did make me smile, so thank you Corry and best wishes to you and your mum.
Posted by Tom Beasley on May 18, 2010
Awww, this is a lovely post. Very uplifting and I hope your mother gets to do all of those things she wants.
Posted by Rachael on May 18, 2010
Great blog. I think I will have more of these pleasures when I get my goats.
Posted by annekebear on May 18, 2010
Cracking post Corry.
Thanks for stepping in and spontaneously reminding me that there is much beauty in simplicity.
All the best to your mum and to those who care for her.
Posted by jill mansell on May 18, 2010
Booksellers’ Choice for August, by Sarah Clarke of the Torbay Bookshop: Mark Watson is best known for his appearances on Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You but will gain many more fans on the publication of Eleven. In this richly comic but intuitive novel his main character, DJ Xavier Ireland, is working very much in the background on a late night radio show. A feisty new cleaning lady enters his life, forcing him to reflect on a significant event in his past. In turns this is both funny and touching with a series of interconnecting characters adding to the mix.
There you go. A great review to come home to!
Best
Jill
Posted by Andy Gibson on May 18, 2010
Cory, I too have CF. I’m 31, but not quite in need of a transplant yet. The way you describe your mums outlook towards her transplant seems to be quite common in the CF community. By the time you need a transplant some of the basics that most people take for granted become difficult to do, therefore the thought of regaining and restoring a ‘normal’ quality of life brings great joy. In fact, I think there is something about having a life threatening disease that almost requires the ability to take joy from the smaller things, without that ability one would be permanently distraught. My best wishes to you and your mum.
I don’t want to appear preachy, but I just wanted to raise the importance of organ donation. People with CF almost always need a transplant to extend their life, sadly there aren’t enough people signed up to the organ donor register and 50% of people waiting for a lung transplant die waiting. So please, please sign up to the organ donor register. Apologies for the message, just wanted the idea of altruism to be put out there. http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/Consent.do
Posted by Corry Shaw on May 18, 2010
Thank you for all your lovely comments. Made me very smiley indeed and I’m taking possibly slightly too long a pause to enjoy them!
For those that are interested the Fairy Pools are tucked in below the Culins in Skye http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/fairypools.shtml
Thanks also for all the best wishes for my mum, she is an amazing woman who is an inspiration to me and I’m glad that she has unknowingly inspired some other people to take a bit more time to enjoy life.
To all those going through exams, best of luck with them. Life becomes much nicer when people stop making your write essays every year!
Have a happy day every one.
x
p.s. Mark is back home from Africa so the blog will return to his capable hands today. Thank you to everyone who offered to jump in as an emergency guest blogger.
p.p.s. This Sunday Mark and I are putting on a show at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, it would be great if you could all come along http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/lqt/show/S1273232242/Mark+Watson%27s+Football+Shambles
Posted by Laura on May 18, 2010
Just lovely. Thank you x
Posted by max on May 18, 2010
Incredibly inspiring post!
I’m going through a really stressful phase right now, but your blog made me go out yesterday and just spend an hour taking pictures which is my passion that I’ve abandoned for the sake of this thesis from hell that I need to hand in two weeks from now.
You made my day.
Posted by Beth on May 18, 2010
I think this is one of my favourite blogs so far. A lovely, beautiful message and the reason for setting me off in a nice, happy mood this morning (despite having an exam later) Thank you! x
Posted by Aislinn on May 18, 2010
This is perhaps my favourite blog so far. What a lovely message.
Posted by LisaD on May 18, 2010
Beautifully written Corry. Way to be a closer!
I’m very impressed with both you and your mother.
After reading this I decided to switch off my cell phone and enjoy that rare thing: a few hours of quiet.
Posted by Maddie on May 18, 2010
This is brilliant and made my day. =)
Posted by JoC on May 18, 2010
Fabulous post! I also believe in taking as much pleasure from life as possible, but it is nice to be reminded of it. The small things can so easily get forgotten in the bigger drama of our lives. Thanks for making me smile.
Posted by Kathryn on May 17, 2010
This is just what I (and probably a few others, I’m guessing?) needed in the middle of exam season. I’ve spent a fair bit of today freaking out about imminent and very horrible exams and it’s a lovely idea to take a moment and just enjoy the small pleasures. I resolve to get up early and walk to the bakery tomorrow.
All the best to your mum, she sounds like a wonderful lady to have such a positive outlook in the midst of a horrific disease, and I hope that everything goes well with her operation. Isn’t modern medicine fantatic that such things as transplants are possible.
Posted by Colette on May 17, 2010
that comment was suppose to finish ” thanks for a beautiful post” but iPhone decided to publish before I finished – damn technologly!
Posted by Colette on May 17, 2010
Corry, that was a beautiful post. It touched me quite a lot cause my Mum is quite I’ll at the moment too. She’s trying to beat the crap out of brain tumour at the moment. Like you, having to deal with serious illness makes you realise it’s smallest of small things that mean the most. Two of favorite things in the world is the smell of freshly cut grass and my two year old nephew giggling and calling me “goget”. They always make me smile. I think I’m so lucky to have these things and to be able to recognise that these are thing things I need to make me happy.
I hope your Mum gets better soon and you can get to enjoy lots more small pleasures with her.
Thanks fir a beautiful
Posted by K on May 17, 2010
Excellent post there Corry, and best wishes to your mother on her op.
Today’s happy half-hour consisted of mooching about in the garden in the sunshine with the cats (who are usually stuck indoors). There was rolling and grass-munching (cats, so far without the usual grass-sicking-up accompaniment, hurrah!), and there was lounging about & random pruning of greenery (me). A jolly good time was had by all.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on May 17, 2010
I just made rice pudding. How’s that for a small pleasure. With cinnamon and nutmeg. I have never made it before and have not eaten it for about 10 years. Felt good and mostalgic I must say.
Great guest blogger I have to say! And fingers crossed all goes well for your mother and that the Fairy Pools (which sound enchanting) are not too far away!
^_^
Posted by ShineUrShoesGuv on May 17, 2010
Fantastic blog Corry. I’m sure Mark will particularly love this one with his new found optimistic side. Hope all goes well for your mum x
Posted by Steph on May 17, 2010
When I read this I looked out of the window and the sun was shining through the ash cloud and giving everything an orange glow. It was very pretty.
Posted by lisa brunders on May 17, 2010
Very nice blog Corry, your mother sounds remarkable, I wish her the opportunity to visit the fairy pools again.
I drive round the outside of the city rather than through, to and from work, and I appreciate the various highlights, from season to season.
Glad we’re in your capable hands, who needs John!
Posted by Corey on May 17, 2010
Good blog my near name sake!. I had a great ‘moment’ a couple of years ago. I was in New Zealand and we had to sleep in the hire car as we’d run out of travelling money and thought it would be best to skimp on extras like a bed, shower and a pillow just so we could do that 5th bungy jump or some white water rafting. It wasn’t so bad but it could get quite cold and bad tempered after a few nights of nearly no sleep. Anyway, long story short, one night I was awake in the middle of the night next to a huge lake, and looked up at the sky….the sky was absolutely covered in stars of all shapes and brightness and it really brought home the fact of how amazing our planet is!. So beautiful.
Posted by (Magnificent) Josh on May 17, 2010
Amazing, although NEVER FEED SWANS. Swans are evil and should probably be eliminated. You may think I’m overreacting here but let me tell you the tale of The Swans of Sudbury.
Back in the day there were loads of ducks and almost no swans, then some lady started feeding them and now there are loads of swans and almost no ducks. Again, you may think I’m exaggerating but on the stretch of river they occasionally get fed on it’s not uncommon to see over 100 swans. This has the side effect of making them as violent as a robot in an orphanage.
That is why you shouldn’t feed swans, robots will kill orphans.
On a more related note, like Howlie, if any more emergency blogs are needed in a hurry, I’m sure I could rustle something up.
Posted by DeborahF on May 17, 2010
Corey – you’re right there is beauty all around us if you care to look and that’s funnily enough what I decided to do today. The sun streamed through my window this morning so I took the day off work and I’ve spent 6 hours in the garden with a male blackbird helping itself to the worms I kept digging up. It’s obviously a brave soul as it was literally hopping round my feet as I worked and flying off with beakfuls of food for its little ‘uns. It reminded me that it is the small things in life that are beautiful and made my day
Posted by Carl on May 17, 2010
Spot on.
I’m a great believer in seeing the positive in everything. When things go wrong, they must only get better. Even by 0.01%.
Keep that attitude up Corry and you will undoubtedly get delightfully far in this beautiful planet. x <— yeah you deserve a Carlito kiss
Posted by Joanna on May 17, 2010
Corry, lovely blog. Today’s not been great for me and this has made me stop and concentrate on the good things, not the bad.
All the best to your mum x
Posted by Megan on May 17, 2010
Thank you, Corry. I’m trying to be take more time to just be lately (largely by lazing about in my back yard or reading in parks). Today’s earliest happiness came from trying to figure out where the frantically peeping baby birds were (my next-door neighbours gutters).
Best wishes to your mum. I’ve never heard of the fairy pools on Skye (and I’ve been lucky enough to go there twice!), but I’m intrigued!
Posted by Rachel Winter on May 17, 2010
I wish your mum well. The Botanic Gardens are one of my favourite places, and I can understand her keeness to want to be back there.
As for little pleasures – I tend to spend a lot of my time quite grumpy or stressing about things, but then sometimes you sit down and think ‘these biscuits are nice, lifes not so bad after all’.
Or you watch something like ‘The Edible Garden’ and just think ‘aah that was lovely’.
great blog!
(ps am a bit jealous you have been trusted with marks website!)
Posted by Anji on May 17, 2010
What a fab reminder! After having a wobbly start to the day and having to be very firm with myself and filling in an endless form, which should have been done days ago, I can enjoy the feeling of acheiving.
Sending positive everythings to you and your Mum, and a big thank you her way for highlighting the topic of this blog!
Posted by Someone on May 17, 2010
:] Lying in and listening to the distant silence and bird song was my pleasure this morning. (I suppose it should be rarer for me really. I’m just that lazy.) Hope the op goes flawless.
Posted by @BexQuillerdrive on May 17, 2010
Beautiful post.
it’s inspired me to walk the long way home, so i can go to a park nearby work, it’s a lovely relaxing spot; full of ducks, squirrels and rabbits the place actually makes you feel like your in a Disney film.
Thanks Corry
and I’ll think positive thoughts for your mum x
Posted by Steph on May 17, 2010
I did this just this morning! Must be on the same wavelength. I woke up, drew the curtains and saw massive fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky. Nice one
Posted by Misha on May 17, 2010
Wonderful blog Corry. Having just had the kind of afternoon so stressful I wanted to cry I’ve just taken a deep breath in and enjoyed the fact i’m now sprawled on the bed having a little read of blogs and news before I get back to work.
I feel so much more relaxed now.
Incidentally if Mark is stuck in Africa because of the ash cloud i’m happy to Emergency blog.
Posted by Marbles on May 17, 2010
Thank you for a lovely blog Corry. Has made me smile properly for the first time today
Posted by Robyn on May 17, 2010
Thank you Corry, that was beautiful…just looked around my tiny room where i am stuck trying to revise, looking for some beauty and saw my flowers sitting on my desk – made me smile and a bit teary!
I hope your Mum will be ok, do you mind if I pray for her?
Posted by rachel (pandora) on May 17, 2010
Corry, your blog made me smile. thank you.
i hope your mum’s transplant goes well, she sounds brilliant!