I’ve been trying to think of what I should say about this, some profound comment to add, but really, they’ve got it covered.

Yesterday, my wife found that the grocery store near our house had a sale on Dungeness crab. This made for an absolutely wonderful dinner which we ate while watching some programs on the Travel Channel talking about various islands in the tropics. As I was sitting there enjoying an absolutely fantastic meal of crab, watching programs detailing some of the most beautiful places in the world, the places that always make me think “Why aren’t I there right now,” my mind was brought to one thing – cigarettes.

Yes, I know they’re bad for you, but hear me out before you begin the mantras about how horrible they are. I thought about cigarettes and thought to myself “When’s the last time I actually *enjoyed* one?” It’s been quite a while. I reflected on this while enjoying my tasty meal, and the consideration expanded. In our fast-moving culture, how often do we take time to really sit down and enjoy such simple pleasures as food? The majority of this nation’s meals are of the fast food variety; to hell with how it tastes, I just want it fast. What’s that gotten us? A nation who’s primary health concern is *obesity?* Think about all the meals you’ve sat down and really, truly enjoyed – bet you that they were far healthier ones that your normal daily fare.

How many other things do we do in our daily lives that we used to enjoy but now do more out of habit than anything else? Like my smoking habit I keep telling myself I’m trying to kick. When I end up breaking down and smoking again, I always tell myself it’s my devotion to hedonism that prevents me from actually quitting. Yet even still, it’s been a very long time since I actually enjoyed a cigarette for being anything more than an alleviation of withdraw symptoms. If you don’t like the incredibly unhealthy example, take this cup of coffee I’m enjoying while writing this. I’m taking the time to enjoy the flavor of the coffee (and realizing it really isn’t that great of coffee, but the point is the same,) the way it plays off the palate, the warmth washing over my throat, the feeling of the caffeine taking hold so that I can “properly” start my day. I’m taking the time to actually enjoy this, and you know what? Despite it not being that great of coffee, it’s still a far better cup than I’ve had in a long time.

Think about it in your own lives, though. How many things did you start to do because you enjoyed them that you now don’t take the time to properly enjoy? When’s the last time you took pleasure in the little things?

Y’all think about it. Me, I have a cigarette to go enjoy.