I drove back from Hampton Court Flower show yesterday and was lucky enough to listen to a program on Radio 4 called The Pleasures of Brecht. I’m no reader of poetry and had never heard of him before. The show was a celebration of the simple joys in life, and the story of Brecht’s much-loved poem that described them.

It was an incredible thirty minutes, and as the program finished, and I drove north, my mind began to explore the things in my life that bring me joy and happiness.  Today I would like you to do the same.

Too often, we dwell on the negative in our lives. We feel the pressure, the pain and the hurt. We feel lonely, unappreciated and unloved. But today is going to be different.

Today we are going to think about the things that bring us joy, the things that make us smile, the things we cherish and love. Through doing this, I believe that we can connect with the person we are deep inside. The person who doesn’t care what other people think or say. The person who isn’t scared to experience life in all its glory. The person we dream of being.

Today, I challenge you to write down ten simple things that bring you joy and happiness. I have included mine below. I hope you will spend five minutes doing the same. If you are feeling brave then do, please post yours as a comment below, but at the very least write them down.

This exercise is about recognising and then celebrating the small things around you that bring you joy. In doing so, I promise, you will feel a warm glow of appreciation for your precious life.  Hold onto this feeling for the rest of the day. It is your shield and armour against the negative world around you.

My list…

Sitting in the caravan at dawn, watching the sun light up our beautiful countryside. Cresting a hill on my bike, my legs pounding, my lungs gasping for air. Walking in the mountains, tasting the clean air. Camping alone under the moonlight.

Writing a blog post about something important. Meeting a customer who loves the products we make. The smile of a beautiful woman. Laughing with my family and friends.

Remembering my mother and her crazy ways. Daydreaming about the future. The taste of Parma ham or salted caramel ice cream.

Sharing my day with Justina. Walking though the beautiful gardens of a stately home. Watching an entire boxset in one sitting. The sound of my Nespresso machine as it makes my double expresso.

Your turn!