If the economic downturn has clouded your mind with worry, then our new sister site, What Money Cannot Buy, is for you. Over the past few weeks, What Money Cannot Buy users, a positive, resourceful group of individuals, have submitted dozens of simple pleasures and priceless moments that make them happy and don’t cost a dime. So ignore the gloomy news forecasters and get your bliss on for free.
Here’s a sample of 44 entries that were recently submitted to the site:
- Realizing you were smiling the entire time you were talking to someone, right after you hang up the phone.
- The warm coziness of my own bed after I return home from a long business trip.
- Playing Rock-Paper-Scissors to settle a decision with one of your friends.
- When a wild animal is tame enough to eat food right out of your hand.
- Crying on my sister’s shoulder. Without the help of my family and close friends, I would be lost in a world of emotion, stress, and confusion.
- Picking and eating fresh fruit right off the tree.
- The joy of watching a baby smile.
- The proud look on my 4-year-old son’s face when he learns a new skill.
- The bittersweet emotions that rush through your body on the very last day of high school.
- Time with the love of my life. Last May, my husband of 27 years was diagnosed with cancer and given 3 to 6 months to live. We prayed, cried, loved, and laughed. Now, 11 months later, we are still savoring every smile, kiss, and breath. We know these moments will end sooner rather than later, but we are so grateful for the time we do have together.
- The rush you get when you’re driving on the open road and your favorite song randomly plays on the radio.
- The comforting sound of my father’s car pulling into the driveway when he finally returns from a long business trip.
- When my baby girl looked up at me and said, “Daddy!” for the very first time.
- Seeing two elderly folks who are madly in love. It’s a sight of love that has surpassed the tests of time.
- Kissing in the rain.
- The feeling of cool morning grass under your bare feet when you walk out to get the newspaper at sunrise.
- Beginner’s eyes. You’ll never see it again for the very first time.
- The sound and sight of ocean waves.
- The feeling you get inside when you go out of your way to make someone’s day a little brighter. Doing something nice and unexpected for somebody else doesn’t always require money, and often the gesture has more meaning when it doesn’t.
- A good photograph of a special moment. It transforms the moment into a tangible keepsake and helps make the memory of that moment last a lifetime.
- A rainbow breaking through the storm clouds on a calm, rainy summer afternoon.
- The exhilarating rush of adolescent love. Those magical moments of adolescent lust and affection that only you and one other person rightly remember.
- The little kicks and pokes I feel daily as I enter the last month of my first pregnancy. It’s truly remarkable!
- Sharing a good laugh with friends and family. Some of the most memorable moments in my life have been moments spent in laughter.
- The excitement of swinging on a swing as high as you possibly can.
- The simple fact that I can read the sincerity in her eyes when she says, “I love you.”
- The awesomeness of skipping rocks across water. It doesn’t matter how old I get, this one never gets old.
- The tears of joy that flow when you see your beloved for the first time after a 10 month deployment to Iraq. All the months of struggle and loneliness are washed away the second he gets off that plane.
- The soothing comfort of an old familiar smell. Earlier today pulled into my parent’s driveway after being away for over a year. I could smell familiarity in the air – the scent of the pine tree in the neighbor’s yard. And as I headed through the front door, more familiar smells consumed my senses. Gosh, it feels good to be home.
- The keen wisdom my grandfather has acquired slowly over the course of 86 years, and the amazing stories and life lessons he shares with me every time I visit him.
- A first kiss. The sweet rush of butterflies in your tummy when you kiss someone special for the very first time.
- When you look into the eyes of your best friend and know, without a doubt, that you can trust her. You can see it in her eyes and you can feel it in your heart. She has no ulterior motive.
- The first sight of daffodils poking through the snow after a long, hard winter.
- The realization of true love. The warm feeling you get many years after your first kiss when you realize you married the right person.
- The surreal beauty of watching lightning strike in the distance.
- An unexpected compliment. It seemed like just another dreary Monday morning, but when she walked into my office and said, “I love your shirt! That color looks great on you,” it brightened the rest of my day.
- A peaceful, romantic picnic with your significant other on a warm sunny day.
- The joy of telling an interesting true story. One of the most enticing roles we lead in life is that of a storyteller. There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.
- The feeling of self-confidence is unquestionably priceless. It cannot be purchased with money, but it can buy you more opportunities and take you farther than any amount of money ever could.
- The excitement of a white Christmas.
- A pillow fight with two of your best friends.
- When my cat snuggles up on my chest while I’m laying on my back. He’s so warm and fuzzy and cute.
- Grilled steak and potatoes home-cooked for me by my husband on a lazy Friday night after I’ve had a long week. Nothing beats sitting at home in my pajamas and eating my favorite food, made by the man I love, with the man I love.
- When the song on the radio ends right as you pull into the driveway.
If you enjoyed these simple pleasures and priceless moments, be sure to check What Money Cannot Buy every day for a quick, fresh dose of positive content.
Photo by: Ricky David
Paul says
45 – Reading this blog that gives me strength and hope for a better tomorrow….
Annika says
I didn’t read the intro really thorough. So I thought all the 44 point where written by one single person.
I got really confused when I first read: “When my baby girl looked up at me and said, “Daddy!” for the very first time.” and then “The little kicks and pokes I feel daily as I enter the last month of my first pregnancy.” :p
John Sherry says
Marc what a top notch list of the real things that matter in life. They give a real warm feeling to read at the start of the day and remind me that life is as wonderful at a simple level to others out there as much as to me. Bless them one and all ( and yourself for posting this) for the reminder that humankind is still the kind of people who care and love each other and this truly amazing world called home. A priceless post.
Darshan Chande says
Of course! These things money will never be able to buy. Nice list made. Very generic and relatable.
Parker Lee | howtomingle.com says
I really like this idea, Marc! I’ve already forwarded your wonder site to some close friends and my brother from New Orleans.
“The excitement of a white Christmas.” –is definitely my favorite, because it’s a classic that I believe will never die out 🙂
Cheers!
Mars Dorian says
Although the list is beautiful in itself, I especially agree with this one :
The feeling you get inside when you go out of your way to make someone’s day a little brighter.
So true – making someone else’s day kick-ass does feel goood – I try to do that every single day.
Karen says
I’m with Paul – add #45 to the list with the pleasure of reading your unique and enriching content 🙂
I think the new site is an excellent way to bring simple, no-cost, moments of happiness to many people’s lives.
Marc says
@All:
Thanks for the additions and kind remarks. I truly hope you all enjoy the new site. We’ll be updating it on a daily basis. And please feel free to submit your own simple pleasures and priceless moments.
jonathanfigaro says
The 44th is my favorite one. Its so magical when that happens. It’s like your aligned with the universe in perfect synchronicity and amazement. nothing more, nothing less.
Farouk says
what a beautiful list, thanks for posting it Marc:)
[email protected] says
I’m with Annika on this one, I thought this was going to be an original list. It would have been much more heartfelt and honest (for me) if it all came from one person.
Mohd.saidely says
Great title, good stuff, positive energy +
thanks guys
Claire says
That’s a lovely idea for a website. I think no 37 is my fave. And I could add one – lying in bed wrapped up all warm while it’s cold, raining and windy outside.
I’ll be following this link. 🙂
Justin Popovic says
Awesome list. I could see myself in many of those scenarios as I read them. Great job as always.
christian says
I love this list. I included it in my best of the week post: http://thirtymag.com/weekly-30/weekly-30-july-23/
thanks for sharing!
Tim says
As an engineer and musician, I would have to say:
Watching as the fruits of your creative toils come to fruition.
Slappy Walker says
Excellent list. It was fun reading through all of them. #3 made me smile because I can remember when I used to work at a summer camp and we used to make our campers do rock, paper, scissors to settle their disagreements. It helped us avoid so many conflicts.
Cheryl from thatgirlisfunny says
Gorgeous! That was a delicious read. Heading over to check out your new site now.
VP says
Giving appropriate credits: pasted this into my blog
mejj says
to add up –
waking up every morning with the thought of having a new day to make new memories ^^
lucy_elenore says
great list! makes me think of the priceless moments in my life 🙂
mm says
Most beautiful article, there are so many life moments to enjoy and look forward to with my future!