In Appreciation…….. of the simple pleasures of life…

Zeena Singh For Eastern Mirror Sunday

Hello folks,

I believe that life has so much to give if only we cared to give a little thought to the most minuscule of joys (which we’d find so much of) only if we’d stop looking at the looming discomforts and discontents.
So here I am, to share with you the simplest joys in my life as I have experienced some time in my life and those that I take as I face each day, at a time.

Of Feelings

With a conscious effort I go out into the front porch. I say ‘conscious effort’ because this porch faces the West; the time : peak (between 3 and 3:30 pm) of our tropical weather. The reason: to which I cannot give a logical reasoning. Something just makes me want to go out there and be by myself. Perhaps I subconsciously fancy the ambience among potted foliage and a view to a somewhat- not- very- busy- lane. I sit there empty of thought (or at least my best attempt at what I consider empty to be).I feel good. Most unexpectedly, I actually begin to enjoy the warmth. No, did I say warmth? I meant heat. Yes, as surprised as I am at myself, I’m equally surprised at this feel-good experience.
And then, Wham!
It’s a feeling! good people, and I suddenly love the thought and feeling that I can feel. Be it good or be it bad, the experience of feeling in itself makes me appreciate it. It makes me feel alive.
So what really is feeling? What does it stand for, what does it actually imply?
A little research on the word says it was – “… first used in the English language to describe the physical sensation of touch through either experience or perception. The word is also used to describe experiences other than the physical sensation of touch, such as ‘a feeling of warmth and of sentience ( ie the ability to feel, perceive or experience subjectively) in general. In Latin sentire meant to feel, hear or smell. In psychology the word is usually reserved for the conscious subjective experience of emotion. Phenomenology and heterophenomenology are philosophical approaches that provide some basis of knowledge of feelings. Some theories of interpersonal relationships also have a role for shared feelings or understanding of another person’s feelings. Feelings are also known as a state of consciousness, such as that resulting from emotions, sentiments or desires.”
So here I am, happy to be able to feel that burning sensation on the skin caused by heat emitted from the star at the centre of our Solar System.
Happy to be able to perceive that there is an antidote to this sensation. Happy that I can feel perspiration on my brow which is transformed immediately to a cool sensation on the skin, brought about by a breeze, however gentle.
I am happy to be aware that seasons change and to physically experience and distinguish the change.
I express my joy in that I can feel the warmth both physical and of the emotional kind too, resulting from sentiments and desires.
I appreciate my being able to feel pain and sorrow. It helps me realise that I can understand hurt and empathise the sentiment in another being.
In context, the feeling of rage and anger reveals to me my sense of knowing right from wrong.
The feeling of ecstasy that gurgles from within, as I see beauty and all that it holds, hear words and sounds that reach out helping fathom a pleasant sensation, the discernment of a touch that comforts an ache.
Feelings, both the bitter and the sweet, bring out a rush of elation in me as it enables me to grasp the realisation of my well – being, the feeling of which I cannot contain; that I have the awareness of and can experience feelings, and the feeling of appreciation for it.

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