“There was nothing wrong with being a homebody. There was nothing wrong with not wanting – not needing – the constant jostle and noise of a party or bar or… whatever.”
― Charles de Lint, Jack of Kinrowan
The older I get, the more I realize that I’m a bit of a homebody.
While I’m not averse to going outside of my house (I’m in no way a hermit), I find great comfort and delight in the simple pleasures of life, which are probably considered boring to much of society who’ve happily adopted a chaotic and frenzied lifestyle. I enjoy…
- Watching old movies at home – munching on a sweet or salty treat, while cuddled up with my sweetheart on the couch.
- Sitting outside on a beautiful evening with a few candles cutting through the darkness, while sipping a cup of coffee and appreciating the peaceful solitude around us.
- Working in the kitchen with my wife preparing a wonderful meal the two of us can’t wait to sample – dining alfresco of course!
- Turning on some of our favorite holiday tunes, while snuggling under a blanket and getting lost in the sparkling light show coming off our Christmas tree. The only light in the room.
These are just a handful of events that often warm my heart on days when I’m feeling lost and alone and need a reminder that a meaningful life has many definitions. And it’s MY meaningful life that I often miss now that I find myself homeless (okay, I’m not really homeless – I’m temporarily staying with my in-laws).
You don’t realize how memorable, enjoyable and yes meaningful all the simple times in your life truly are until you’ve hit the “pause” button on your life – anxiously awaiting the day when you can hit “play” again.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the simple times in our lives, for as I’m discovering they’re the only things you remember, whole-heartedly, when they’re gone.
