Les kiffs, or the little pleasures of life

Hello hello!

In this particularly intense period on political and economic fronts, I don't know about you, but I feel a rise in anxiety.

Therefore, with this July letter, let's take care of each other more than ever and show indulgence, including, and especially, towards ourselves. 

And with summer fast approaching, let's talk about life's little joys! These simple moments hold great importance in our daily lives.

In this fast-paced world, we tend to forget them. You know, those moments that give you a dopamine boost, make you smile, and make you think, "Isn't life beautiful?"

They are always present, we just need to see and appreciate them.

I’m talking about simple, instant pleasures that make you feel good (and harm no one!) – a coffee on a terrace, a workout after a long day, a scented candle, a favorite dish, a quarter-hour of reading before bed.

This month, let's dream big and have ambitious projects, but don't forget to enjoy the simple pleasures along the way. These moments of joy help us maintain balance during stressful and difficult times.

Let's cultivate these small joys and give them the importance they deserve!

5 QUESTIONS TO DENIS ☀️

I met Denis in Barcelona, and we became friends. One thing, and perhaps what I love most about our friendship, is his appreciation for the little joys in life and his ability to make room for them.

Can you share with us an example of a little pleasure that you particularly enjoy in your daily life?

It might sound trivial but... the first coffee in the morning, sitting on a terrace with a book – 20 minutes, half an hour, no more. Now, an old man's habit – getting up in the morning and seeing if my plants are doing well  Deciding on a whim to go to a restaurant for lunch with friends or alone. The scent of orange blossom right now in Poblenou, my neighborhood in Barcelona. These aren’t things that take a lot of time, but they are my breaths of fresh air.

Is there a little pleasure that you have discovered recently?

I practice a lot of daily pleasures. So it would be finding something different, a new place to sit, a new hike. Or discovering a new pastry shop*.

*Denis has been taking pastry classes for several years, much to the delight of his friends.

Do you have any advice for people who have trouble identifying or enjoying their little pleasures?

It's complicated to wait for the big pleasures because it's hard to define them and it’s always about anticipation (getting a diploma, achieving something, having family success...). If you’re always waiting for the big pleasures, life isn't easy. Whereas provoking the little pleasures is very easy! It doesn't require a lot of money, and they are right in front of us! 

Oh, and a lot of pleasures come from discussions with people; they take you into their world, for a coffee or an evening, and it can give you ideas, desires, motivation!

Is there a little pleasure that you would like to try but haven't had the opportunity to do yet?

It's more about projects that will bring pleasures. It’s all about how to generate new pleasures with new projects, both sharing with people and cultural, sports, or culinary discoveries, or a new way of traveling.

What inspires you today?

Social discovery and promoting the social discovery of others It’s meeting people who make me discover things, inspiring me with what they share. Learning from people and also generating encounters to create new passions.

BITS AND BOBS TO GET INSPIRED THIS MONTH 🌈

• Why not get inspired by Danish simplicity with their Hygge philosophy? 

• Are you familiar with the concept of delayed gratification? It’s the ability to delay the receipt of a reward to increase its amount. Watch this adorable video to understand this concept – Would you wait 15 minutes to get a second marshmallow?

• "Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less joy." This quote from Inside Out 2, which follows Riley’s emotions, raises this question: Do people feel more anxious and less happy as they get older?

• A bit of pleasure with some musical sweetness do Brazil...

• A quote: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” - Oscar Wilde.
  

• The NewHappy reminds us: "Don’t become so focused on getting somewhere that you end up missing all of the beautiful moments that are available right here and now." It particularly resonates with me during those times

OLI-REFLECTION 💭

Take a sheet of paper, a pencil, or jot down a note on your phone.

Write your list of 10 "kiffs" (little pleasures).

Don’t overthink it, they are simple, part of your daily life, and most importantly, don’t be ashamed – this list is yours.

Come back to this list regularly throughout the month and try to 'provoke' these "kiffs."

Alright, I made mine. You can borrow some of them if you’d like 🙂

With love, Léa 💌

PS: I wanted to thank you for reading! For those who are new, you can find the initial releases here. 

I have many dreams for Olitas and ideas to grow this project. I'll take some time this summer to reflect on them.  Your opinions are precious to me because I want to build something that belongs to you.

Do you have 2 minutes to answer 5 quick questions? It would help me a lot.

Give your opinion on the Oli-letter!