“Sweet spot” popped up in my reading several times last week. Bothered by a feeling that the expression had become weak from overuse, I spent a few minutes pondering what “sweet spot” meant to me. Here is the result.
Sweet Spot
The place to scratch, to rub, to plunge
My mossy nest in the rain forest
A log on the trail where I sit to absorb the waterfall
The flat boulder where I gaze at Lake Superior
The place where my little one snuggles up while I read a story
The lap of my mother
The embrace of a dear friend
Anywhere the sun warms my face on a fall day
The first bite of cheesecake, first raspberry, first lick of an ice cream cone
The first whiff of wet dirt in the spring
The first glimpse of a rising full moon
The first kiss of tropical air upon arriving in Hawai’i
The first breath of fresh pine and cool lake approaching the North Shore
The first barefoot step onto a sandy beach
The moment with a friend when we burst into belly laughs
The moment in dancing or painting when time and self disappear
The moment when dinner’s in the oven and there’s nothing more I need to do
The moment when the birthday boy walks into his surprise party
The moment I see a pileated woodpecker, a fox, an owl
The moment when a dragonfly lands on my arm and stays and stays
The tiny mole on my dear one’s cheek, or neck
The wine stain on the carpet reminding me of an hilarious evening
The patch of black fur on my kitty’s white face
My favorite reading corner in the South St. Paul Library when I was a kid
The secret garden at my friend’s farm
The treehouses I dream of, the hidden gardens, the forest clearings, the rippling streams
The quietest, most serene place in the cemetery that also feels most alive
The place in the music when I burst into tears
The time in the play when everyone in the theater gasps
The moment when the hard task is finally done
March in Minnesota is not a sweet spot in the year for me, so it does seem like a good time to remember those other sweet times and places. What are your sweet spots?
(NOTE: Clicking on the photos will open larger, clearer images in a new window.)
Yes, my sweet spot today is sighting a pleated woodpecker and I just send you a photo! thanks so much for naming so many lovely memories of mine!
Wow, pileated woodpeckers always make me gasp. Thanks Mary!
I loved your sweet spots, Anne! Today my sweet spot is my living room chair and ottoman where I snuggle up on this beautiful snowy afternoon to read more of my latest good book and occasionally look up to admire the snowflakes or take a sip of tea. It’s even sweeter because I feel a sense of accomplishment having completed my weekly grocery shopping and a few other necessary tasks before reading.
Oooh, sounds lovely Barb! Thanks for sharing your sweet spot today.
I love this! What a lovely little journey you took me on with your sweet spots! I’m going to make my own list of sweet spots! What a renewing thing to think about and refer to on a closed in covid day.
Oh yes, do make your own list–it’s so cheering! Glad you enjoyed it Holli. I’d love to hear your sweet spots.
A gentle breeze across my face; the smell of the forest after the rain; my grandson’s giggle; when I can make my husband laugh; floating/resting on the water after an invigorating swim; the smile of a friend when she sees me; walking Moonstone Beach, Cambria CA; a picnic area in a grove of tall pines on Mt. Lemmon; sitting on the rocks at Artist Point on Lake Superior…………
Mmm…these make me smile Holli! Thanks!
I loved the “Sweet Spot” and the spots you identified. It’s important to remember those things that save us from the dull sameness of the past year. Thank you!
Yes, I hadn’t thought of “sweet spots” before in that way. What are your sweet spots Janet? I highly recommend listing what pops into mind!
Thanks Anne. This is a delightful reminder.
It felt good to touch these sweet spots again! Thanks Tom.