1st August: Pleasure yourself
What if you put pleasure and satisfaction at the centre of your world this summer?
1st August.
Just past half way point of the year.
The beginning of the month is a great time to set goals, to make some commitments, to make a list.
But it’s August. Many of you have kids at home or off for the holidays.
So what if August is the month where you enjoy more versus do more?
What if you made pleasure your focus for the month of August?
Pleasure? Officially defined as a ‘feeling of happy satisfaction’
I love that.
‘Happy satisfaction.’
I have been obsessed for a long time with the idea of satisfaction.
I’ve always been a seeker, always searching but never really satisfied.
In this third act of my life, I’m exploring what feels satisfying. What really fills me up? What stops me in my tracks? What allows me to rest, to lie back and just enjoy life for what it is versus a future that never comes?
Mostly for me, it’s about connection - deep connection with people I like and love. I’m never satisfied more than when I’m sitting round with my friends and loved ones and talking about the meaning of life, laughing, chatting through problems and brainstorming solutions. I am enjoying making new friends here in Alnwick and hearing about new worlds and being curious about how utterly different we all are.
The other thing that satisfies me is inspiration - reading about inspirational people, listening to podcasts of people making their dreams into reality, interviewing inspirational people talking about overcoming adversity, watching films that make my heart leap. Inspiration satisfies me.
Finally, creativity. Although I mostly find writing very hard to do, I love creating - coming up with ideas, vomiting on the page, using my imagination to create something from nothing. Utterly satisfying!
On the 1st August, allow yourself to ponder on pleasure and what truly give you long-term satisfaction?
And if it’s ice-cream, then so be it.
Happy first of the month!
Suzy x
Lovely! ❤️ I'm off to write a list of things I love to do, that really spark joy and pleasure.. Good idea 🙏
Oh Suzy! What a lovely post. To put pleasure and satisfaction at the centre of my world at this moment. And I very much appreciate your final question "allow yourself to ponder on pleasure and what truly gives you long-term satisfaction" What truly gives me long term satisfaction...I will ponder that more, however what came up is that whatever that is helps me be in the NOW more, in a space of sheer pleasure and in a zone of deep contentment and happiness. And, unfortunately, there are times where I choose not to partake in my long-term satisfaction because, well, there is just too much other stuff to do, and how sad that is! Suzy, thank you for reminding me to do what GIVES ME PLEASURE...