Editor’s Note: At the end of the long holiday weekend, we’re sharing this post, originally written in June 2020, all about life’s little joys and why they are. so important.
I love May and June. Happiness comes in brief sparks, do discover a new flower or a recalled smell, sometimes rocking something from the past. The rhododendron was the first flower I noticed in Minnesota. By the time I was ready to get inside its thorny heart, its pompous existence was gone. Mid-May is for lilacs. I count down their arrival every year because their lush bodies only undulate for a week before the sun browns them. The first week of June is for singles. Their upright little bulbs quickly burst when their heavy heads crashed to the ground floor, destroyed on a hot June day.
Nature reminds us that the things that make us happiest are often fleeting. We have to catch them, spend time with them and soak in them before they disappear.
Nature reminds us that the things that make us happiest are often fleeting. We have to catch them, spend time with them and soak in them before they disappear.
These are the brief moments in our lives that give us energy. They surprised us as much as we expected of them. Here are some of my personal favorites: spring, New lovea glass of misty roses, a live concert (sometimes a very specific song), letter in mail, a longing touch, a clever phrase in a book, or the smell of grilled ribs with cherry wood or fresh bread swirling around the outside of the restaurant. Every moment is a quick mix of real and genuine goodness. They have no impact; they don’t have much expectations. But, we desperately search for them. We keep them close.
Why do we love these fleeting moments so much? Why do we need them? Curious about this, I did some deep soul searching. Our world is full of complicated ideals and conventions, so I wonder if fleeting moments are a source of deception or artifice to heal us — even if only for a moment. Sure enough, my quarantine brain got hooked on something. A kind of happiness that is not at our core, but a buffer for the harsh parts of us.
It is expected that these rapidly living emotions have a name. They are defined as the source of hedonistic happiness (the first dimension of happiness). Based on an article in the journal Psychology Today, this is when a certain event triggers pleasure (i.e. maximum amount of positive emotions, minimum amount of negative emotions). Pretty simple stuff, right? Well, what I find most interesting about this emotion is that it is not very deep. It is selfless. Deep is when free happiness arises. Liberal happiness is the kind of emotion that makes us think: Who I am? Why am I here? It’s more difficult to define and is filled with questions and doubts — a marathon, not a sprint.
Hedonistic happiness doesn’t raise those weighty questions. As one might imagine, a quick moment of joy does not define us or need to identify us. Dreamy lilacs and cheerful peonies keep us moving so we can do the hard work. Our values are not pressured to be determined by them. Our hearts are not pressured to sacrifice anything that might end up hurting us. These non-pressure, hedonistic impulses provide us with a temporary cure.
Quick pleasure does not define us or need to identify us. Dreamy lilacs and cheerful peonies keep us moving so we can do the hard work. . . . These non-pressure, hedonistic impulses provide us with a temporary cure.
This is why we crave them. Our presence is made up of transitory things, even though we may not be entirely defined by them. Falling in love with fleeting moments isn’t a bad thing, rather than the big things that define who we are, like eternal love, family, friends, and food. The rapidly fading memories remind us that time is structured that way, minute by minute. They remind us that we will miss a lot if we don’t pause with the fluctuating things we love. They remind us that we are human and different and beautiful because we are different. Where I find momentary pleasure, you may not.
Feeling is especially important knowing all cultures have these parts of the fun. We often choose to ignore them; to seek complex eudaimonic (ie trauma and history) search. But I think it’s important that we also be mindful of hedonistic things and study what other people love in fleeting moments. So we can see others in their flashing joy. So they are not defined by what hurts them.
That’s why we capture these moments in art and poetry. We look for them. We actively seek them out for fun. Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to them than ever because we’re offsetting the meaning of life, libertarian happiness, with something a little lighter that we can create. change. We are purposeful in finding meaning in life in others. Well, it’s a fleeting start. And never, really, end.
What is your fleeting joy? Share in the comments!
Brittany Chaffee is a passionate storyteller, professional author, and author. Every day, she gets paid to strategize and create content for brands. Outside of business hours, it’s all about a well-lit place, warm bread, and good company. She lives in St.Paul with her cat brother, Rami and Monkey. Follow her on Instagramread more about her latest book, border lineand (most importantly) hug your mom.
