Welcome to a weekly feature on my blog – Ben’s Zone. Written by husband… Ben. A foodie, coffee obsessed, ex-smoking, ex-drinking and Ridgeback loving Dad. Who is also seriously into his fitness.  You can find him on the blog (most) Sundays. Enjoy 🙂

Five Simple Pleasures

I have to be honest, I adore complexity. I get into something, and then I find the detail in it and before I know it I’ve complicated it as much as I possibly can and that’s ok, it’s just my nature and I’m quite happy to be like that. That being said, there’s a place for simple things in life and I think I’m a lot happier for being able to appreciate them, so here are five simple pleasures I enjoy in my life.

1. The Feeling of Being Awake after my Morning Run

I’ve always been a morning person, I love to wake up and attack the day and so I tend to run first thing in the morning, when the air is fresh even in mid summer and I get to watch the sunrise at the right time of year. The best bit though is the feeling of wakefulness I have on my return. I enjoy an espresso or two in the morning but I drink them for pleasure, not to wake up. Starting the day in the fresh air and getting my heart pumping makes me feel perfectly awake, even if I don’t feel that good physically.

2. Lying in Bed Hearing my Daughter Sing

Like me, Aria and Logan are also morning people. When she wakes up Aria likes to lie bed singing and there’s just nothing better than lying back listening to her croon away in the morning. There’s a basic happiness that shines through that’s a thing of beauty.

3. Talking to the Old Man About Music

Like most men of my generation I don’t really have super in depth conversations with my Dad, but we do both love music. Another of my simple pleasures is just having a chat to my dad about the music we’re listening to and various bits of music nostalgia. There are some of my favourites that he doesn’t like and, try as I might, I’ve never managed to appreciate Ska, but we can meet at heavy rock and making idle chit chat about Deep Purple is about as simple as a pleasure gets for me.

4. Playing my Guitar

I’m not a great guitarist, not even good actually, but there’s something very soothing that happens when I feel the strings under my fingers. It’s not even about the sound that comes out, it’s just a simple, pleasant feeling. I actually keep a guitar in my office to play while I am thinking about a tough technical issue. I find running up and down simple scales helps me to focus and serves to put my mind in order.

5.Swimming in the Sea

I love being immersed in water, I enjoy a relaxing bath but the very best sensation of all is being immersed in the sea. It combines the sense of comfort I feel when swimming with the motion and sense that you’re part of something bigger. I don’t mind if it’s cold, I prefer it when there’s surf but I can live with it if there isn’t, swimming in the sea is pretty much the height of contentment for me.