There is a Japanese book called the Pillow Book written by Sei Shonagan over a thousand years ago – I think around the 980’s. She makes various lists in the book…one of my favorites is a list that I was reminded of when I read this question. I love reading it because it makes me think of how little has changed about human nature in the past thousand years – even with all of our technological advances. The small pleasures still sustain us…
Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster
By Sei Shonagan (from The Pillow Book)
“Sparrow feeding their young. To pass a place where babies are playing. To sleep in a room where some fine incense has been burnt. To notice that one’s elegant Chinese mirror has become a little cloudy. To see a gentleman stop his carriage before one’s gate and instruct his attendants to announce his arrival. To wash one’s hair, make one’s toilet, and put on scented robes; even if not a soul sees one, these preparations still produce an inner pleasure.
It is night and one is expecting a visitor. Suddenly one is startled by the sound of rain-drops, which the wind blows against the shutters.”