It really is the little things. As Boomers reflect on our lives and the past year in particular, don’t you find it’s not the material rewards that give us as much enjoyment as such simple pleasures as laughing with friends, enjoying a warm, sunny day or the taste explosion from the first bite or sip of our favourite food or wine. Closing the final page of a wonderful book always fills me with such sweet pleasure. While I hate to leave the story that I’ve become so much a part of, I relish the thought of digging into a new, equally engrossing story from my pile of books to read.

2014 had its share of bad news and disappointments. The proliferation of social media and news reporting has flooded our consciousness with stories of tragedies, senseless wars, disease and injustices at levels that seem unprecedented in history. In actual fact, crime levels are down but because of the immediacy of information available we’re more aware of it now than we would have been even a couple of decades ago. So often I’m tempted to not watch the news or read the paper just to avoid being stressed about things I can’t do anything about.

What’s your special pleasure? Is it breaking one hundred on the golf course? Perhaps it’s your first morning coffee or simply waking up next to your sweetie. Having a good hair day is enormously satisfying or answering the door bell and seeing a friend who just dropped by for a cup of tea and a visit. Trying a new recipe that turns out to be a winner is lots of fun, especially if it’s a dessert.

My single goal for 2015 is to be even more aware of life’s simple pleasures and celebrate them. Think I’ll start with a nice cup of tea and one (or two) of the butter tart squares I made yesterday and start a new book. Life doesn’t get much better than that. We’re now the best we’re ever going to be and the fact that we’re still here to experience and share our lives is the ultimate gift worth celebrating. And that’s not a little thing. Happy New Year my dear friends.