How do you define pleasure?
In her book, "Eat, Pray, Love," Elizabeth Gilbert talks about traveling to Italy to experience pleasure, a concept that she finds foreign. During her first few weeks in Rome, she struggles with coming to grips with what "pure pleasure" really is. Gilbert says that "pure pleasure is not my cultural paradigm," explaining that she grew up in a family of hard workers who were not given to idleness.
She gets it right when she says that Americans have difficulty relaxing "into sheer pleasure". This is true...at least of my family. Maybe this isn't true of other people. Sure, many of us talk about being "couch potatoes" all weekend watching a marathon of movies or reality shows. But even that is not true idleness. How long has it been since you've just sat and done absolutely nothing? Can you just sit quietly and listen to the soft in and out of your breathing?
One of my brothers has had lupus for more than 20 years. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is lifelong and can be severe. He's been proactive in caring for himself, resulting in relatively good health. But that involves daily meditation -- a period of time in which he sits quietly and stills his mind. Thought by many to be a "cult" practice, meditation can, in fact, be an important contributor to a healthy mind and body.
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Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- Community Pool closed June 28
- Weekend Doctor: About Rotator Cuff Repair
- WOAL Swim Champs in Wapakoneta July 11-12
- '60s Survivors Band plays fifth annual free concert
- Bluffton Lions to bring all-abilities playground to new Legacy Park
- July 2025 programs and services at Bluffton Public Library
- Save the date: July 17 Garden Club is all about herbs
- Bluffton Vacation Bible School, July 13-17 at Bluffton Y
Friday, June 27, 2025
- Foundation launches Rooted to Rise initiative
- Eight vehicle injury crash IR 75 in Hancock County
- Bluffton Mayor commends Safety Services on June 26 injury accident response
- What's in your weekend?, June 27-28-29
- Go wolfhound to Bluffton
- Letter: Ask for veto of HB 96 library provision
- ODNR Offering Hunter Education Instructor Classes
Thursday, June 26, 2025
- Bluffton safety services respond to multi-vehicle accidents on I-75
- Travel opportunities update from Bluffton Senior Center
- Send July 2025 Community Calendar items to the Icon
- National Night Out is August 5, planning is in final stages
- Bluffton Senior Center activities schedule for July 2025
- Does your business have summer hours? Post them on the Icon
- Bluffton, Ohio ranks 4th in Ohio for bike network quality