Epicureanism and a life of simple pleasures

I am an Epicurean, well not entirely, I don’t exactly obey every work of the work of Lucretius and his De rerum natura (a roman poem and guide on how to live the Epicurean life). I do agree with the basic sentiments however, that the ultimate goal of life is to try and limit pain and stress by focusing on the little things in life you can both control and enjoy.

A big part of Epicurean philosophy, for those not looking to read a treaties on the matter, is that you should take time to find joy in our natural human senses. I could spend hours explaining this in more detail, and one day I might write a post or two on it. For now let me summaries the relevant bits.

1. Life is stressful, and a happy life is one where you live with as little pain and as much enjoyment as possible.

   
   

2. Sometimes pain is unavoidable, and a little pain or effort now will prevent a lot of pain later on, so in these cases it is logical to accept the hurt.

   
   

3. Indulging in things that bring joy is great, but too much of a good thing can lead to pain, so moderation is required.

   
   

4. To get the most enjoyment out of a moderated life, slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of sight, sound, aroma and flavour. These are the cornerstones of what makes us happy. Make sure to appreciate every aspect of what you are doing.

Let me give you an example of that last one.

How to eat an orange

Eating an orange might seem like quite the easy, and arguably boring experience to use as an example here.

1. Cut off orange skin

2. Eat

But lets break that fruit down and see how it interacts with our senses.

Touch

Feel the skin. It is waxy and smooth with little dimples speckled throughout its surface. Notice how it comfortably sits in the palm of your hand, maybe take a second to throw it up in the air and catch it again, a little juggling practice for the sake of something fun to do. Remember we are never too old to partake in play.

Smell

Now take a knife and cut into the orange. The intense aroma of freshly cut orange is one of my favourites. It is so bright and fresh, you can smell that vibrant citrus acidity. We can also notice its sweetness. An orange has a lot of natural sugars, we can certainly enjoy the sweet and floral aromas that come from them.

Taste

Now comes the best bit. Oranges are amazing little fruits, fresh, zesty, sweet and bitter. Rich acidity runs through with a balancing touch of natural sweetness. Its juice equally as refreshing as it is satisfying. There is a reason why orange juice is the breakfast drink of choice for millions around the world. Its just so damn tasty.

You might notice that I didn’t mention sight in all this, and I could of course wax lyrical about its shimmering spherical surface, but I think you get the picture. Take your time, examine your experience. Most importantly pay attention to how it makes you feel in that moment. In doing all of this, our interaction with the world becomes infinitely more enhanced and even simple activities can be made into adventures of the senses.

Where does this all come back to wine?

Wine is above all else a sensory experience. Take a look at any wine review or shop description and the best break it down into its appearance, aroma and flavour. Sound familiar?

When people ask me how I’m able to so quickly discern the flint from wet stone, or marmalade from fresh orange peel, Epicureanism is the answer. I’ve spent a lifetime taking note of every experience and understanding that every action and event comes with its unique sights, scents sounds and… taste (can’t think of an S word for the one).

When you break down the world like this you tend to remember certain little smells like the saltiness in seaside air, or the taste of rich sugars in overripe fruit. When it comes to tasting a wine, it becomes a simple memory game.

1. Take a sniff and sip.

2. What does that remind me of?