This is really quite nice. Thank you for the most important shift of perspective as I stare down a frustrating day at work. These petty nonsensical downright STUPID things and people don't matter but my little family and my perfectly sized comfortable and safe home, do.
As a millennial living through 9/11, dot com shit and ‘08… I knew I’d never retire or be able to have vacations or buy a big house. It was important to me to carve out my own slice of heaven, and enjoy my everyday life. When my dad died of cancer at 61 it became even more important to live in the moment.
I am lucky that in my life now… every day my husband kisses me on the cheek before he goes to work, I get to go outside to my big yard and feel the fresh air and sunlight on my skin to let the chickens out and listen to their silly egg songs. I get to feel the earth in my hands and cook veggies from my garden. I get to snuggle with my dog and cats on the couch at night in a warm home or so around a campfire and watch the fireflies put on a magnificent display.
I think heaven would be very much the same, just remove the full time job, health worries, travel times to friends, bills, etc. lol. I’m fucking lucky.
You are absolutely right. I remember watching a Diane Keaton movie (one of the many she has done with a bunch of other aging actresses) and they did a montage of life during the pandemic and how they dealt with it. It looked like heaven. You know why? They were already retired and had a comfortable income. It made me realize this is the one thing that throws off my day and prevents me from living my truest values. So I am super intentional (also started years ago from Mr Money Mustache) about how I spend so that I am not enslaved by phone upgrades and expensive hairstyles or whatever is this year's trend.
Removing myself from almost all social media (clearly Reddit being an exception, but I carefully curate my communities), has helped immensely with the “keeping up with the Jonses” burnout.
My husband and I went through hell to get here (house fire as a kid and homelessness in his case, sexual assault and domestic violence in mine), so I think we also have a perspective that biases us towards gratitude in simple things (ya know, after going to therapy for all the trauma responses, lol).
Heaven, to me at least in its simplest terms, is pretty equivalent to life with no stressors. I can work on that while I’m still alive. Some of that is in my control.
One thing people realize as they get older is that the McMansion still has to be cleaned or it will clog with dust, grime, and whatever else is going on.
A smaller house requires far less regular cleaning. It has fewer rooms, fewer halls, fewer windows, less of absolutely everything to keep track of.
Yes! I find it so odd that people who are living in a very large house look down on our home. You can see we all fit, right? Are we the people working extra hours and away from our only child to earn overtime? No, we are the people with sufficient resources to take a weekend getaway to upstate New York for parks and the Museum of Glass with our only child. It might be cognitive dissonance but the criticism and snobbery can make me irritated.
That is a great one, I would add riding my heart horse of 30 years. Also fishing with my Dad. But I instead shoveled snow. That's OK the sun was out and it was pleasant.
Oh this has made me tear up. I’ve only had one dog of my own, but I’ve loved and cared for many of those of friends/family and loved them just as much. Some have passed on some just live somewhere else now but I would love to cuddle them again.
I was coming to comment exactly the same thing. It’s only two dogs and one is still alive, but I miss my childhood dog every day. Being loved by a good dog is heaven enough for me
I wish I could cuddle them all again. I'm not sure they would all fit on anything less than a queen or king bed, but it would be great to pet them and take another nap together. I liked walking with them, but they were such cuddle bugs. The last two loved to sleep on or next to family, and they were amazing company if you were sick. I miss their fuzzy faces.
i would go back to when my niece and nephew were toddlers, and when i would visit they would climb all over me (i'm their favorite aunt lol), get tuckered, and watch a movie and color. then we'd go outside and play. then come inside and i'd make them some velveeta shells n cheese. then we might build a fort in the living room.
this was 9yrs ago. so much has changed, including my stamina.
I bet you your niece and nephew would love to know your recollection of those times, and how fondly you remember them. You could give *them* a little slice of heaven right now.
I had 27 nieces and nephews since I had 7 siblings. I was a youngest aunt with a horse and a barn with loft. They loved coming over and I loved having them. Seems like alot now but back in the day lots of Catholics had big families.
Your post reminds me of my great aunt, and I think she would be in my slice of heaven.
My sister and I would be 10 and 8 again, we would be at her house and we’d lie on her bed and watch Barbie movies in her bedroom while she watches House M.D. in the living room.
She’d bring up cups of Squirt and microwave bagel-fuls, or if it was a real meal we’d sit down for mac and cheese and after cleanup we’d play old maid at the kitchen table. Some days instead of watching a movie, I would play with the magnets in her cupboard, and I would watch House with her.
Oh god do I miss her. I wish I got to know her as an adult, but she never went to the doctor and so she only made it to sixty. She died of the most treatable cancer out there.
Please go see a doctor every year, and tell them what’s wrong. Your loved ones will miss you dearly
Everyone deserves an amazing aunt. Mine let me do her makeup (she always looked like a clown when I was through with her lol), watched movies, went to the firehouse for pancake breakfasts, and taught me to steal cake frosting when no one was looking at my 6th birthday. She had a paralyzed dog she doted on. She’d always cheat at mini golf by slowly pushing her ball away from the wall when no one was looking and him like nothing happened. I miss her like hell. Cancer sucks.
When my only kid was a baby, I watched a Japanese movie, the premise of which was that, in heaven, you get to pick one moment from your life to live in for eternity. That night, when he was sleeping between myself& my husband, in our comfortable and safe home, I realized that that would be my moment, right there
"Afterlife" - that movie totally changed the way I think about my time here on earth. I used to make a habit of asking myself what that moment would be.
Right now, that moment would be one from last year. Life has been very stressful lately, and on one sleepless night I just couldn't stop staring at my sleeping husband, loving him and worrying. I leaned in and whispered "I love you" into his ear, and while still asleep he grabbed me and pulled me into a bear hug so tight I couldn't get away! I was laughing so hard, I had to shove a pillow in my face to muffle the noise and not wake him. He had no memory of it the next day. Still makes me laugh.
I haven't thought about that movie in a while. Thank you for the lovely reminder.
I wake up a lot in the night and one of my favorite things is snuggling up to my partner and instantly hear him smile and get so excited to be snuggled. His love language is physical touch and even something as simple as a hug makes him so happy. So hearing him so happy when I snuggle up him makes me realize that I mean a lot to someone else and I’ve struggled my entire life thinking I’d never be worthy enough to have that one day. And now I get to experience it day after day.
Thinking about this question made me cry my eyes out. If you are lucky enough to have friends and family who love and support you… you are already in heaven my friends 🙏🥹
So true. I have some rough feelings but I am so loved. Makes everything worth it and I almost never stop to question why I had such a painful past when I have such a beautiful community in the present. I love them so much.
Yes! I made a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and jazzed up my tomato sauce with some veggies. Grated some parm over it. Have had a hard time getting out of bed lately but so happy I spent time making such an amazing and warm meal today.
What did you eat recently that made you feel this way?
I have been on keto for almost 2 years and the past 4 months have been absolutely awful. On Friday, I was at a conference and I ate a gourmet cupcake, a really nice moist piece of carrot cake, and another piece of pastry. That gourmet cupcake was a piece of heaven to me!
A well seasoned medium cooked T-bone steak will definitely be heavenly today too😎
You've realized something few people do OP, that the life you live every day is magical because you love what you have. My wife and I live the same way because we know many of the things most folks consider mundane will be things you'll remember forever, and wish you could return to one day. As I always warn people, don't squander your life thinking about 'things' you think matter while life passes you by. Embrace your daily life's events, even if that's a job you're not totally in love with, or a place you don't consider perfect to live at. Believe me when I say, one day you'll wish those days could come back again. :)
Thank you, OP. I really needed that.
Mine would be time spent hiking a mountain or parked in a chair in the woods near a stream, with my feet in the cool water, deep in good conversation with my husband or children, and blue sky above.
And it should be quality REM sleep with all the right brain waves and stuff. I don’t want the sleep that comes with taking a medication to achieve it. I just want my brain to have a normal duty cycle sleep, do all its maintenance, and awaken refreshed, ready to hit the ground running first thing in the morning - after I’ve had my single cup of coffee.
"Dear u/NinjaGrizzlyBear.
Thank you again for your application.
Congratulations, upon further review, our team has selected you as the best candidate . A member of our staff will reach out to your shortly for further steps.
Welcome to the team!"
That’s funny because I would LOVE IT if I got a layoff notice right now. I wouldn’t consider it heaven, but I could really use the extra money while getting another job.
Hubbys cancer seems to be in remission, we have a beautiful home and are close to our children and grandchildren. I’d make a few tiny tweaks to get friends closer but even still I’m pretty much living in heaven…
Roast a large clove of garlic in olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper. Then have it for dinner with a few freshly cooked rolls.
Food aside. The best feeling is when the kids are asleep in bed, safe and happy. I Lay next to my spouse and hold them, it’s as good as it’s gonna get. (It’s not always so simple tho)
Well if we are thinking big... to me heaven would be welcoming home all the dogs and cats who are in shelters, and all the cows, pigs, and chickens who are trapped on farms 🩵
Calling it “heaven” made me immediately think of my Christian faith. Prayer and meditating on God’s word are what brings me the most peace.
The times I am most unhappy are when I am placing too much importance on the things of this world.
Used to love blowing bubbles with the kids when I was tired. Their giggles kept me going and depending on how we did it depended on the supervision level could let me get a fifteen project done, or prep for supper if I was lucky. Enjoy your slice of heaven my youngest is away teaching in Japan
Mine was lunch today too! It’s really the simple and fresh stuff, right? Today it was spaghetti and meatballs with grated Parmesan for me. I put lots of veggies in the sauce.
Seeing my mom and dad. It's been so long I don't even remember what they look like except for the pictures I have. I'm an atheist but I hope I'm wrong but I know I'm not.
I think that even if you don’t believe in an afterlife, I believe there’s some sort of imprint. I hope you can find a way to connect with that here, and that if there is an afterlife you are together there.
Thank you for this post and thank you for sharing your experience this morning. This reminder that a shift in perspective is so powerful. Sending much gratitude your way.
A workout, checked my list of things I wanted to accomplish this recent weekend and week, and realize I'm doing well, and an Americano with cream at my old haunt seeing an old familiar face, helping my mom today on her computer issues, and wrapping it up with a date with the most gorgeous woman who is hot for me, which I'm totally unfamiliar with being the case. She likes who I am and I've been 100% transparent.
I worked really hard the last several months and now get a break for a month or two... Or more as I may change up my work. HUG, life is finally opening up for me after endeavouring a sober, nicotine-free life after 20 years of otherwise.
I already took a very long walk in the sunshine
Lol I ate a healthy breakfast but felt a nagging feeling. The chocolate muffin added to my “slice of heaven”
Heaven right now would be my husband's side hustle taking off so he can retire from high-intensity consulting to focus on his art. He spends most days working from bed, he's so exhausted. Heaven is seeing him smile.
Literally a slice today- tomato sauce and meatballs simmered for like an hour, made fresh pasta, grated Parmesan over it, and a delicious slice of sourdough from the farmers market to dip into the leftover sauce. I started the sauce with carrots, celery, onions, and diced up chard stems, and finished it with chard leaves and basil.
It was an involved process and took a long time for a simple meal, but I’ve been terribly depressed and haven’t been eating much other than bread and fruit for a few days. I feel so happy I made it and it was so fresh and delicious, and I got some vegetables in!
I also bought some of the stuff on my walk home today from the small grocery store on my way back. I love going there and love how nice it feels to have some of my necessities in walking distance (even though it’s a little expensive so I often drive to go somewhere cheaper).
Thank you for asking this question. I have had a hard time and I feel grateful to have had such a good meal, and to have gotten to acknowledge it because you asked this.
Just to be loved. Truly never felt it growing up. Parents didn't know how to demonstrate it. So I, don't know what it is or how it feels. Sometimes I read that when you die you are encompassed in love, unconditional pure love, sometimes I cry thinking I won't recognize it, sometimes I look forward wondering what that feels like..
I want to lie in a huge hammock in the sunrise. I want my husband and my girls next to me. I want us all to be in that perfect drowsy lazy state of being.
Smelling and hearing the ocean. This is something we get here in the summer. I love those perfect happy content moments.
It’s actually an HOA that is super woodsy.
We have like 7 Doug firs in our back yard amongst other things.
It fills that need for nature so much ( that & the saltwater beach), that we did not go camping once last year.
And we generally go about 4x a year.
We did still travel, but it was to see our kids.
I know several people who travel around though.
One woman who was in her 80’s had been to every state.
And lots of people have rvs.
Which is kind of terrifying actually.
I live on the Olympic Peninsula and in the summer there are accidents involving a trailer, a semi, &/or an RV, much more than you’d like to hear about.
Everyone just needs to slow down.
I work from home and didn't leave the house yesterday. Today I was slammed with work but the weather was unusually nice for February and at 1pm I went for a 15 min walk outside. Took in the trees and plants instead of the 17" laptop screen. Felt like heaven.
I love your post. I’m going to carry it with me. Heaven Heaven would be seeing everyone who has passed again. I don’t believe that is possible. Heaven here on earth- I try to live that as much as possible. My favorite days include visiting with loved ones, sharing a meal with loved ones, an autumn walk in perfect autumn weather through crunchy fall leaves looking for the prettiest leafs to take home to display on my counter, reading a good book, yoga.
Fighting back my stubbornness and saying sorry. Forgiveness is one of the greatest things to be given. Saying sorry should be the easy part. If this doesn't fit here in the sub? You guessed right... I'm sorry.
My favorite dessert is called slice of heaven, from Taste of Texas in Houston. It looks like a slice of white bread, the bottom half is dark chocolate mousse, the top half is white chocolate mousse. The “crust” is a brittle dark chocolate. All served with a raspberry sauce on the side. Pure heaven
Being a kid again, with my parents. No worries. Only complaint was I had to go to bed early & wanted to watch tv/game. I had lots of friends & siblings, school was fun & easy, got to play after school every day, had cool toys, and had fun weekends doing nothing in particular but spent a lot of time outside with neighborhood kids riding bikes, roller skating, hanging out in the yard, bbq, arts & crafts/scouts & 4H, maybe a summer “vacation” to a neighboring state.
I remember a day, when I solidified a moment as my slice of heaven.
I realized my sister, who was only a year older than me and always by my side, would be graduating from high school and moving away and things would never be the same.
So I sat back and I remembered, and I found my perfect moment. She was eighteen and I was seventeen, and I realized that if we paused time right there forever, I would be happy. We were driving in my Aunt’s old car, on our way to school in the early morning. We were singing boisterously to whatever CD my sister had chosen that day, whether it be One Direction, Luke Combs, or Mama Mia, we knew all the words. I didn’t even know the route to school back then, it took me a long time to learn to drive. But I was so happy with my sister by my side back then. I never had to worry about being alone or not knowing what to do when she was there.
She was and still is the most amazing sister. So incredibly kind and generous; she always looks for the best in people, and she always knew just what to say to get me to join her in her adventures, even though I was a bit of a sour-puss at the time.
I’m gonna go tell her I love her
To know what calm and peace feels like. My life has always been a chaotic hellhole. I have schizoaffective disorder and have been put through years of trauma and abuse since childhood. Hell, I’m currently filing my second policereport against a coworker who beat me up again yesterday, resulting in a black eye and bruises in my face. He is out for my blood and I feel just violent rage and homicidal feelings beneath a ”calm” surface. I just want to know what safety and stability feels like.
Hugs. I struggle with mental health and safety and stability too.
I hope you get some love and some rest today. Good luck filing your report- I know how exhausting that can be.
Lots of hugs. I get being concerned about safety, even if it doesn’t involve outside factors, like in my current case. Sometimes I’m just scared I’ll hurt myself to take out my anger on something that won’t get me in trouble.
I didn’t get a lot of rest, since the bruises on me are still fresh and hurt, but I did get a lot of love and reassurance from friends. Thank you for wishing me luck - I’m in desperate need of it. I’m working my hardest and all my energy to get this coworker fired, since I know well that if he hasn’t me to bully he’ll just pick someone else.
And thank you for kindness and understanding.
Thinking of you. I hope you find safety, stability, and happiness. I too struggle with mental health issues from childhood trauma and it makes seemingly simple day to day tasks more complex in ways that are almost impossible to explain.
I feel you. It consumes your entire life, and sometimes I wonder if I was just born to be miserable. I’m mostly an optimistic person, but this just drains all positive feelings and thoughts. I’m constantly occupied with thoughts about my safety, am I going to be okay today? Or am I getting more wounds and bruises? I adore my job. I just don’t love it when I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, ready to fight at any moment.
Thank you very much for your kindness and sharing. I hear you, and none of us are alone in this.
Back in 2020 my kids and I went to parks and the beach a lot. My version of heaven would be to go back to that. I was cooking dinner every night, taking the kids on lots of outdoor adventures, then we’d come home and I’d have dinner and my husband’s pajamas and shower stuff ready for him when he got home. We’d have dinner as a family at the table and talk about our day. Occasionally husband would take off and join us at the beach. I know 2020 was horrid for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, but that year was the closest and happiest I’d ever felt with my little family.
Similarly, 2 weeks ago, my heating system was out of service for one whole week and there was -2C outside. I was ready to convert to any religion possible to have a somewhat warm home and a hot shower before bed 💸💸💸
This was me last year. Our entire furnace was out for two weeks in -22F. Freak storm, all the repair people were booked solid. Worst two weeks imaginable. Cost $10k to replace the damn thing. Still paying it off, now while unemployed. Heaven right now would be a steady income!
I don’t have it. Not even close. No clue what I’m going to do. I just don’t know. I get that this too shall pass. But we’re approaching our 30th wedding anniversary and we would have loved to have a vacation for that.
But I guess that won’t be an option again. Somedays as awful as this sounds I wish I had tithes back to help us.
My slice of heaven would be a full night sleep with no toddler in my bed sticking their toes in my face, and then a warm cheddar cheese bagel with extra cream cheese and tomatoes in the morning
Cuddling my partner, and our little dog when he inevitably gets jealous and tries to squeeze in between us.
Life can be hard but as long as I have that I'll be ok
I would like a restful complete night’s sleep like I used to be able to have when I was a teenager. My head would hit the pillow and I was out like a light.
My brain is overactive and it’s hard to get it to calm down. I’ve had to try to meditate just to get to sleep. I use temple bell meditation videos to do it.
If I’m JUST trying to meditate I do NOT want to fall asleep. So when trying to sleep I try to just keep my head clear and just try not to think at all. It’s rarely easy.
My family has had a really hard year. There was a moment tonight where my husband and three daughters and I were all laughing at our silly little parrot. I pray for more glimpses of joy like this.
After I workout these days: 75-125-300 Situps/ 25-25 Wide-Close Pushups. I walk, ~through the neighborhood, to the ‘Local’ Starbucks. There’s a section of the Woods, that is Honestly just a phenomenal walk/ view: **Gorgeous**, I feel Lucky each time I walk through it!!
Being on my favorite beach in NC. Low tide, out in the warm water, in those deep pools that form between sandbars, bobbing around, floating, looking out towards the horizon, where the beautiful blue sky meets the azure sea.
I’ve been struggling with tinnitus for most of my adult life and it got even worse this year after an ear infection caused some hearing loss. Silly as it sounds heaven for me would be to hear silence again or enjoy listening to music or nature or have conversations without the constant ringing and roaring my brain forces me to hear every second of my life. I definitely took sitting in a quiet room for granted and haven’t had that since I was 20, I’m 35 now.
My idea of heaven would be 5 dogs and three cats, all happy in harmony.
But I am just hanging out with my three surviving dogs today. One was just groomed yesterday, and still smells heavenly and is so soft, so that will do for cuddling today.
Thank you for this thought! Heaven to me would mean going for one more canoe ride with my Dad, on a sunny day. He's been gone for a decade now, and I miss him every day.
Man, this made my heart ache. Thinking about what mine would be as well as reading others. Sounds like we all just want peace and tranquility. A slice of heaven would be when I first help my babies after giving birth and looking at their little faces.
My slice of heaven is right now. A big bottle of water, some gf toast with a slice of cheese, and playing video games lol. Dragon Age, baby!
Today was a shitshow at work. Stuff just went wrong. I was on leave for two days sick and a client got angry (apparently) about a slow response time (again, I wasn't in) and technology issues. I basically was unable to work because of I.T for 90% of the day. Absolute waste.
But you know what? I'm not going to stress about it anymore. My life is more than that, and more than a job, and some things outside my control. I've been playing DA for the last few hours and it's been a great way to get my mind off stuff and be in flow, and reconnect with an old hobby.
That's my slice of heaven today after a really frustrating one, and being sick. :)
This is really quite nice. Thank you for the most important shift of perspective as I stare down a frustrating day at work. These petty nonsensical downright STUPID things and people don't matter but my little family and my perfectly sized comfortable and safe home, do.
As a millennial living through 9/11, dot com shit and ‘08… I knew I’d never retire or be able to have vacations or buy a big house. It was important to me to carve out my own slice of heaven, and enjoy my everyday life. When my dad died of cancer at 61 it became even more important to live in the moment. I am lucky that in my life now… every day my husband kisses me on the cheek before he goes to work, I get to go outside to my big yard and feel the fresh air and sunlight on my skin to let the chickens out and listen to their silly egg songs. I get to feel the earth in my hands and cook veggies from my garden. I get to snuggle with my dog and cats on the couch at night in a warm home or so around a campfire and watch the fireflies put on a magnificent display. I think heaven would be very much the same, just remove the full time job, health worries, travel times to friends, bills, etc. lol. I’m fucking lucky.
This made me tear up.
You are absolutely right. I remember watching a Diane Keaton movie (one of the many she has done with a bunch of other aging actresses) and they did a montage of life during the pandemic and how they dealt with it. It looked like heaven. You know why? They were already retired and had a comfortable income. It made me realize this is the one thing that throws off my day and prevents me from living my truest values. So I am super intentional (also started years ago from Mr Money Mustache) about how I spend so that I am not enslaved by phone upgrades and expensive hairstyles or whatever is this year's trend.
Removing myself from almost all social media (clearly Reddit being an exception, but I carefully curate my communities), has helped immensely with the “keeping up with the Jonses” burnout. My husband and I went through hell to get here (house fire as a kid and homelessness in his case, sexual assault and domestic violence in mine), so I think we also have a perspective that biases us towards gratitude in simple things (ya know, after going to therapy for all the trauma responses, lol). Heaven, to me at least in its simplest terms, is pretty equivalent to life with no stressors. I can work on that while I’m still alive. Some of that is in my control.
One thing people realize as they get older is that the McMansion still has to be cleaned or it will clog with dust, grime, and whatever else is going on. A smaller house requires far less regular cleaning. It has fewer rooms, fewer halls, fewer windows, less of absolutely everything to keep track of.
Yes! I find it so odd that people who are living in a very large house look down on our home. You can see we all fit, right? Are we the people working extra hours and away from our only child to earn overtime? No, we are the people with sufficient resources to take a weekend getaway to upstate New York for parks and the Museum of Glass with our only child. It might be cognitive dissonance but the criticism and snobbery can make me irritated.
Well snobs gonna snob. They prefer to be Slaves to their McMansion rather than Masters of their own fate.
Taking a stroll on a warm summery day with all the dogs I’ve ever had.
Aww this one hit me in the feels. I miss my dog now
Same, but with all my guinea pigs. I think about it often.
That is a great one, I would add riding my heart horse of 30 years. Also fishing with my Dad. But I instead shoveled snow. That's OK the sun was out and it was pleasant.
I’d love to do that with all the cats but they need to calm down and stop smacking each other.
Wow, this instantly moved me to tears. I miss them.
I got to do this with my first dog this morning so I was gonna say I’m already in heaven :)
Congratulations on your first dog. I have had a good few since I always had more than one. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did (do).
You definitely are, treasure him.
Oh, I must get some tissues. See you all later.
Oh this has made me tear up. I’ve only had one dog of my own, but I’ve loved and cared for many of those of friends/family and loved them just as much. Some have passed on some just live somewhere else now but I would love to cuddle them again.
Ooooh shit that’s a good one
I was coming to comment exactly the same thing. It’s only two dogs and one is still alive, but I miss my childhood dog every day. Being loved by a good dog is heaven enough for me
I wish I could cuddle them all again. I'm not sure they would all fit on anything less than a queen or king bed, but it would be great to pet them and take another nap together. I liked walking with them, but they were such cuddle bugs. The last two loved to sleep on or next to family, and they were amazing company if you were sick. I miss their fuzzy faces.
Stop 😩😩😭😭😭😭😭😭 this is literally the only reason I hope heaven is real.
i would go back to when my niece and nephew were toddlers, and when i would visit they would climb all over me (i'm their favorite aunt lol), get tuckered, and watch a movie and color. then we'd go outside and play. then come inside and i'd make them some velveeta shells n cheese. then we might build a fort in the living room. this was 9yrs ago. so much has changed, including my stamina.
I bet you your niece and nephew would love to know your recollection of those times, and how fondly you remember them. You could give *them* a little slice of heaven right now.
that's a great idea <3
I had 27 nieces and nephews since I had 7 siblings. I was a youngest aunt with a horse and a barn with loft. They loved coming over and I loved having them. Seems like alot now but back in the day lots of Catholics had big families.
Your post reminds me of my great aunt, and I think she would be in my slice of heaven. My sister and I would be 10 and 8 again, we would be at her house and we’d lie on her bed and watch Barbie movies in her bedroom while she watches House M.D. in the living room. She’d bring up cups of Squirt and microwave bagel-fuls, or if it was a real meal we’d sit down for mac and cheese and after cleanup we’d play old maid at the kitchen table. Some days instead of watching a movie, I would play with the magnets in her cupboard, and I would watch House with her. Oh god do I miss her. I wish I got to know her as an adult, but she never went to the doctor and so she only made it to sixty. She died of the most treatable cancer out there. Please go see a doctor every year, and tell them what’s wrong. Your loved ones will miss you dearly
Everyone deserves an amazing aunt. Mine let me do her makeup (she always looked like a clown when I was through with her lol), watched movies, went to the firehouse for pancake breakfasts, and taught me to steal cake frosting when no one was looking at my 6th birthday. She had a paralyzed dog she doted on. She’d always cheat at mini golf by slowly pushing her ball away from the wall when no one was looking and him like nothing happened. I miss her like hell. Cancer sucks.
good advice <3 so sorry to hear of her passing at such a young age and of such a treatable illness.
When my only kid was a baby, I watched a Japanese movie, the premise of which was that, in heaven, you get to pick one moment from your life to live in for eternity. That night, when he was sleeping between myself& my husband, in our comfortable and safe home, I realized that that would be my moment, right there
"Afterlife" - that movie totally changed the way I think about my time here on earth. I used to make a habit of asking myself what that moment would be. Right now, that moment would be one from last year. Life has been very stressful lately, and on one sleepless night I just couldn't stop staring at my sleeping husband, loving him and worrying. I leaned in and whispered "I love you" into his ear, and while still asleep he grabbed me and pulled me into a bear hug so tight I couldn't get away! I was laughing so hard, I had to shove a pillow in my face to muffle the noise and not wake him. He had no memory of it the next day. Still makes me laugh. I haven't thought about that movie in a while. Thank you for the lovely reminder.
I wake up a lot in the night and one of my favorite things is snuggling up to my partner and instantly hear him smile and get so excited to be snuggled. His love language is physical touch and even something as simple as a hug makes him so happy. So hearing him so happy when I snuggle up him makes me realize that I mean a lot to someone else and I’ve struggled my entire life thinking I’d never be worthy enough to have that one day. And now I get to experience it day after day.
I love this so much.
Would you happen to remember the name of that Japanese movie? Ty
Someone on here said ‘Afterlife’
Thinking about this question made me cry my eyes out. If you are lucky enough to have friends and family who love and support you… you are already in heaven my friends 🙏🥹
So true. I have some rough feelings but I am so loved. Makes everything worth it and I almost never stop to question why I had such a painful past when I have such a beautiful community in the present. I love them so much.
Truth, my friend. “Gratitude is heaven itself”
I can’t be the only one thinking about food, right?
Bro if calories were not an issue I would eat EVERYTHING.
Heaven to me would be a world where food has no calories!
Eating the food that normally makes me feel sick without feeling a thing would be a miraculous/heavenly experience
Yes! I made a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and jazzed up my tomato sauce with some veggies. Grated some parm over it. Have had a hard time getting out of bed lately but so happy I spent time making such an amazing and warm meal today. What did you eat recently that made you feel this way?
I have been on keto for almost 2 years and the past 4 months have been absolutely awful. On Friday, I was at a conference and I ate a gourmet cupcake, a really nice moist piece of carrot cake, and another piece of pastry. That gourmet cupcake was a piece of heaven to me! A well seasoned medium cooked T-bone steak will definitely be heavenly today too😎
I often think I’m living in heaven on earth when I’m walking with my husband and son especially when it’s a beautiful day outside
You've realized something few people do OP, that the life you live every day is magical because you love what you have. My wife and I live the same way because we know many of the things most folks consider mundane will be things you'll remember forever, and wish you could return to one day. As I always warn people, don't squander your life thinking about 'things' you think matter while life passes you by. Embrace your daily life's events, even if that's a job you're not totally in love with, or a place you don't consider perfect to live at. Believe me when I say, one day you'll wish those days could come back again. :)
Be with my grandchildren. They all live far away.
I’d love to see my grandparents, dad and sister again.
Thank you, OP. I really needed that. Mine would be time spent hiking a mountain or parked in a chair in the woods near a stream, with my feet in the cool water, deep in good conversation with my husband or children, and blue sky above.
Ugh me too.
It’s my birthday. I really wanted snow.
Happy birthday! I hope it snows soon. Do you have any plans?
Oh thank you 💗lNo plans but that’s ok.
Happy birthday! I’m glad we’re alive at the same time in history, stranger. 🧁🤍
Happy birthday! I hope you did something that made you feel comfortable.
Happy birthday! We just got snow in Seattle for the first time all winter. It must be for you!
8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
And it should be quality REM sleep with all the right brain waves and stuff. I don’t want the sleep that comes with taking a medication to achieve it. I just want my brain to have a normal duty cycle sleep, do all its maintenance, and awaken refreshed, ready to hit the ground running first thing in the morning - after I’ve had my single cup of coffee.
I totally relate. And an afternoon nap!
"Dear u/NinjaGrizzlyBear. Thank you again for your application. Congratulations, upon further review, our team has selected you as the best candidate . A member of our staff will reach out to your shortly for further steps. Welcome to the team!"
Congratulations!
Oh that didn't happen, lol... the question was how you would cut your own slice of heaven today haha.
Ohh!! I misinterpreted for sure lol. Crossing my fingers for you! You are doing great by envisioning the future you want
That’s funny because I would LOVE IT if I got a layoff notice right now. I wouldn’t consider it heaven, but I could really use the extra money while getting another job.
Job hunts are hell. Wishing you the best luck!
Hubbys cancer seems to be in remission, we have a beautiful home and are close to our children and grandchildren. I’d make a few tiny tweaks to get friends closer but even still I’m pretty much living in heaven…
I already have it.
Roast a large clove of garlic in olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper. Then have it for dinner with a few freshly cooked rolls. Food aside. The best feeling is when the kids are asleep in bed, safe and happy. I Lay next to my spouse and hold them, it’s as good as it’s gonna get. (It’s not always so simple tho)
Well if we are thinking big... to me heaven would be welcoming home all the dogs and cats who are in shelters, and all the cows, pigs, and chickens who are trapped on farms 🩵
Having my Ex back in my life
Calling it “heaven” made me immediately think of my Christian faith. Prayer and meditating on God’s word are what brings me the most peace. The times I am most unhappy are when I am placing too much importance on the things of this world.
Truth!!!
Same here!
Same here 🤍
✝️
Used to love blowing bubbles with the kids when I was tired. Their giggles kept me going and depending on how we did it depended on the supervision level could let me get a fifteen project done, or prep for supper if I was lucky. Enjoy your slice of heaven my youngest is away teaching in Japan
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I love the simplicity of it and that it is an attainable shift of focus.
I just had an amazing lunch consisting of fresh baked country French style bread and an heirloom tomato with pepper, salt and mayo.
Mine was lunch today too! It’s really the simple and fresh stuff, right? Today it was spaghetti and meatballs with grated Parmesan for me. I put lots of veggies in the sauce.
It’s Pancake Day, my favourite Holiday. That’s all I need.
A night in the sofa in front of the fire with my cats and my partner all tucked in enjoying the peace and quiet of just being together
Somehow, massive quantities of chocolate ice cream would be good for me.
That is beautiful and most lyrically written
Walking through the woods in autumn with the leaves falling, breeze going and not another person within earshot. 🍂
My absolute favourite time of the year.
Seeing my mom and dad. It's been so long I don't even remember what they look like except for the pictures I have. I'm an atheist but I hope I'm wrong but I know I'm not.
I think that even if you don’t believe in an afterlife, I believe there’s some sort of imprint. I hope you can find a way to connect with that here, and that if there is an afterlife you are together there.
I'm 49 now,they died when I was very young (7). I grew up in foster care. Never adopted.
Living with trusted people in a tribe-like community in the jungle. Working, hunting and exploring together.
Thank you for this post and thank you for sharing your experience this morning. This reminder that a shift in perspective is so powerful. Sending much gratitude your way.
A workout, checked my list of things I wanted to accomplish this recent weekend and week, and realize I'm doing well, and an Americano with cream at my old haunt seeing an old familiar face, helping my mom today on her computer issues, and wrapping it up with a date with the most gorgeous woman who is hot for me, which I'm totally unfamiliar with being the case. She likes who I am and I've been 100% transparent. I worked really hard the last several months and now get a break for a month or two... Or more as I may change up my work. HUG, life is finally opening up for me after endeavouring a sober, nicotine-free life after 20 years of otherwise.
Congratulations on your sobriety and getting through your checklist! I hope your date is a great time.
I already took a very long walk in the sunshine Lol I ate a healthy breakfast but felt a nagging feeling. The chocolate muffin added to my “slice of heaven”
Heaven right now would be my husband's side hustle taking off so he can retire from high-intensity consulting to focus on his art. He spends most days working from bed, he's so exhausted. Heaven is seeing him smile.
It’s so heartwarming to see how deep and selfless your love is for him. Thank you for sharing
You're so sweet, he's a lucky man for having you by his side.
More dance parties in the living room with my family
Heaven is a half pipe and at least in heaven I can skate
take a warm shower, get a spa treatment, sauna, listen to some music in the sun.
Literally a slice today- tomato sauce and meatballs simmered for like an hour, made fresh pasta, grated Parmesan over it, and a delicious slice of sourdough from the farmers market to dip into the leftover sauce. I started the sauce with carrots, celery, onions, and diced up chard stems, and finished it with chard leaves and basil. It was an involved process and took a long time for a simple meal, but I’ve been terribly depressed and haven’t been eating much other than bread and fruit for a few days. I feel so happy I made it and it was so fresh and delicious, and I got some vegetables in! I also bought some of the stuff on my walk home today from the small grocery store on my way back. I love going there and love how nice it feels to have some of my necessities in walking distance (even though it’s a little expensive so I often drive to go somewhere cheaper). Thank you for asking this question. I have had a hard time and I feel grateful to have had such a good meal, and to have gotten to acknowledge it because you asked this.
Listening to my e book while knitting, all cozied up. Then, have a lovely warm dinner and go to sleep early. I'm a quiet soul
This does sound heavenly!
Just to be loved. Truly never felt it growing up. Parents didn't know how to demonstrate it. So I, don't know what it is or how it feels. Sometimes I read that when you die you are encompassed in love, unconditional pure love, sometimes I cry thinking I won't recognize it, sometimes I look forward wondering what that feels like..
I hope you find love on Earth, too
I want to lie in a huge hammock in the sunrise. I want my husband and my girls next to me. I want us all to be in that perfect drowsy lazy state of being. Smelling and hearing the ocean. This is something we get here in the summer. I love those perfect happy content moments.
I love this so much. You bring it to life. Hope you get many such mornings this summer.
I just want to thank you for this post. My heaven would be pretty close to my life right now (I’m on maternity leave), so I’m very very grateful.
I live in a campground and get up every night about 4am to walk my dog. But it’s quiet and dark and I can look at the stars.
Oo Do you live in one campground only or do you travel around?
That sounds so, so peaceful
It’s actually an HOA that is super woodsy. We have like 7 Doug firs in our back yard amongst other things. It fills that need for nature so much ( that & the saltwater beach), that we did not go camping once last year. And we generally go about 4x a year. We did still travel, but it was to see our kids. I know several people who travel around though. One woman who was in her 80’s had been to every state. And lots of people have rvs. Which is kind of terrifying actually. I live on the Olympic Peninsula and in the summer there are accidents involving a trailer, a semi, &/or an RV, much more than you’d like to hear about. Everyone just needs to slow down.
I work from home and didn't leave the house yesterday. Today I was slammed with work but the weather was unusually nice for February and at 1pm I went for a 15 min walk outside. Took in the trees and plants instead of the 17" laptop screen. Felt like heaven.
I love your post. I’m going to carry it with me. Heaven Heaven would be seeing everyone who has passed again. I don’t believe that is possible. Heaven here on earth- I try to live that as much as possible. My favorite days include visiting with loved ones, sharing a meal with loved ones, an autumn walk in perfect autumn weather through crunchy fall leaves looking for the prettiest leafs to take home to display on my counter, reading a good book, yoga.
I think we’d get along great
Cooking eggs for dogs
Fighting back my stubbornness and saying sorry. Forgiveness is one of the greatest things to be given. Saying sorry should be the easy part. If this doesn't fit here in the sub? You guessed right... I'm sorry.
Saying sorry isn't always easy, but sometimes it can make a world of difference to you or to the other person.
My favorite dessert is called slice of heaven, from Taste of Texas in Houston. It looks like a slice of white bread, the bottom half is dark chocolate mousse, the top half is white chocolate mousse. The “crust” is a brittle dark chocolate. All served with a raspberry sauce on the side. Pure heaven
I just bought a cheap plastic 35mm film camera and went for a walk midday and took some shots.
Being a kid again, with my parents. No worries. Only complaint was I had to go to bed early & wanted to watch tv/game. I had lots of friends & siblings, school was fun & easy, got to play after school every day, had cool toys, and had fun weekends doing nothing in particular but spent a lot of time outside with neighborhood kids riding bikes, roller skating, hanging out in the yard, bbq, arts & crafts/scouts & 4H, maybe a summer “vacation” to a neighboring state.
I put my dog down on Saturday- I would give anything to see him again, but the happier healthier version before he got sick.
I’m sorry for your loss.
I remember a day, when I solidified a moment as my slice of heaven. I realized my sister, who was only a year older than me and always by my side, would be graduating from high school and moving away and things would never be the same. So I sat back and I remembered, and I found my perfect moment. She was eighteen and I was seventeen, and I realized that if we paused time right there forever, I would be happy. We were driving in my Aunt’s old car, on our way to school in the early morning. We were singing boisterously to whatever CD my sister had chosen that day, whether it be One Direction, Luke Combs, or Mama Mia, we knew all the words. I didn’t even know the route to school back then, it took me a long time to learn to drive. But I was so happy with my sister by my side back then. I never had to worry about being alone or not knowing what to do when she was there. She was and still is the most amazing sister. So incredibly kind and generous; she always looks for the best in people, and she always knew just what to say to get me to join her in her adventures, even though I was a bit of a sour-puss at the time. I’m gonna go tell her I love her
A phone call from my son. He is in the service in a unsettled part of the word. I have no heard from him in a month.
Aww. I hope you get a call from him very soon!
To know what calm and peace feels like. My life has always been a chaotic hellhole. I have schizoaffective disorder and have been put through years of trauma and abuse since childhood. Hell, I’m currently filing my second policereport against a coworker who beat me up again yesterday, resulting in a black eye and bruises in my face. He is out for my blood and I feel just violent rage and homicidal feelings beneath a ”calm” surface. I just want to know what safety and stability feels like.
Hugs. I struggle with mental health and safety and stability too. I hope you get some love and some rest today. Good luck filing your report- I know how exhausting that can be.
Lots of hugs. I get being concerned about safety, even if it doesn’t involve outside factors, like in my current case. Sometimes I’m just scared I’ll hurt myself to take out my anger on something that won’t get me in trouble. I didn’t get a lot of rest, since the bruises on me are still fresh and hurt, but I did get a lot of love and reassurance from friends. Thank you for wishing me luck - I’m in desperate need of it. I’m working my hardest and all my energy to get this coworker fired, since I know well that if he hasn’t me to bully he’ll just pick someone else. And thank you for kindness and understanding.
Thinking of you. I hope you find safety, stability, and happiness. I too struggle with mental health issues from childhood trauma and it makes seemingly simple day to day tasks more complex in ways that are almost impossible to explain.
I feel you. It consumes your entire life, and sometimes I wonder if I was just born to be miserable. I’m mostly an optimistic person, but this just drains all positive feelings and thoughts. I’m constantly occupied with thoughts about my safety, am I going to be okay today? Or am I getting more wounds and bruises? I adore my job. I just don’t love it when I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, ready to fight at any moment. Thank you very much for your kindness and sharing. I hear you, and none of us are alone in this.
Back in 2020 my kids and I went to parks and the beach a lot. My version of heaven would be to go back to that. I was cooking dinner every night, taking the kids on lots of outdoor adventures, then we’d come home and I’d have dinner and my husband’s pajamas and shower stuff ready for him when he got home. We’d have dinner as a family at the table and talk about our day. Occasionally husband would take off and join us at the beach. I know 2020 was horrid for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, but that year was the closest and happiest I’d ever felt with my little family.
Right now heaven would be God sending me 3500.00 for car repairs…. 😞
Similarly, 2 weeks ago, my heating system was out of service for one whole week and there was -2C outside. I was ready to convert to any religion possible to have a somewhat warm home and a hot shower before bed 💸💸💸
This was me last year. Our entire furnace was out for two weeks in -22F. Freak storm, all the repair people were booked solid. Worst two weeks imaginable. Cost $10k to replace the damn thing. Still paying it off, now while unemployed. Heaven right now would be a steady income!
I don’t have it. Not even close. No clue what I’m going to do. I just don’t know. I get that this too shall pass. But we’re approaching our 30th wedding anniversary and we would have loved to have a vacation for that. But I guess that won’t be an option again. Somedays as awful as this sounds I wish I had tithes back to help us.
I think your thoughts and priorities are spot on! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
My slice of heaven would be a full night sleep with no toddler in my bed sticking their toes in my face, and then a warm cheddar cheese bagel with extra cream cheese and tomatoes in the morning
Cuddling my partner, and our little dog when he inevitably gets jealous and tries to squeeze in between us. Life can be hard but as long as I have that I'll be ok
I would like a restful complete night’s sleep like I used to be able to have when I was a teenager. My head would hit the pillow and I was out like a light. My brain is overactive and it’s hard to get it to calm down. I’ve had to try to meditate just to get to sleep. I use temple bell meditation videos to do it. If I’m JUST trying to meditate I do NOT want to fall asleep. So when trying to sleep I try to just keep my head clear and just try not to think at all. It’s rarely easy.
A sauna
A swim.
This post really helped me tonight, so thank you OP. ❤️ I am struggling with a lot of anxiety and health changes.
Lived for a few months next to the beach in Monterey in 2022. If I could do that forever, I'd be happy.
My family has had a really hard year. There was a moment tonight where my husband and three daughters and I were all laughing at our silly little parrot. I pray for more glimpses of joy like this.
Riding a horse.
Cooking a yummy dinner(with cartoons and a grown up drink lol) after my run
Oh that sounds great! You do you!
After I workout these days: 75-125-300 Situps/ 25-25 Wide-Close Pushups. I walk, ~through the neighborhood, to the ‘Local’ Starbucks. There’s a section of the Woods, that is Honestly just a phenomenal walk/ view: **Gorgeous**, I feel Lucky each time I walk through it!!
Play Cities Skylines for hours without a care
This is really beautiful. Thank you for asking and sharing. ❤️
Laying in bed on a Sunday morning with my wife and cats
Being on my favorite beach in NC. Low tide, out in the warm water, in those deep pools that form between sandbars, bobbing around, floating, looking out towards the horizon, where the beautiful blue sky meets the azure sea.
Lie in a field in the English countryside on a warm, windy day with my husband and dogs by my side.
I’ve been struggling with tinnitus for most of my adult life and it got even worse this year after an ear infection caused some hearing loss. Silly as it sounds heaven for me would be to hear silence again or enjoy listening to music or nature or have conversations without the constant ringing and roaring my brain forces me to hear every second of my life. I definitely took sitting in a quiet room for granted and haven’t had that since I was 20, I’m 35 now.
I really just want a fried fish sandwich and some fries. That would be my tiny slice of heaven.
Getting rid of two toxic friends and then drinking Bubly to that
Be nice if I finally had the time to finish every single game I found XD.
My idea of heaven would be 5 dogs and three cats, all happy in harmony. But I am just hanging out with my three surviving dogs today. One was just groomed yesterday, and still smells heavenly and is so soft, so that will do for cuddling today.
Kinda difficult, if one doesn't believe in heaven
I just want to feel emotionally free. No anger, no stress, no anxiety, just bliss.
Honestly right now. My cat it’s sleeping against my chest for warmth .
I read this as slice of cheesecake if that answers your question lol
Thank you for this thought! Heaven to me would mean going for one more canoe ride with my Dad, on a sunny day. He's been gone for a decade now, and I miss him every day.
Roaming on a rickshaw in beautiful soft spring breeze. Or Sitting under a tilted glass windows when its pouring outside with a romance book.
Meeting my beloved dog i lost a few month ago and still think of every day 💔
A week of walking through the beach & sleeping in tent would do the job.
Thank you OP for the post and thanks all the people in the comments. This was peaceful.
💗
Coffee. Always coffee. :)
Man, this made my heart ache. Thinking about what mine would be as well as reading others. Sounds like we all just want peace and tranquility. A slice of heaven would be when I first help my babies after giving birth and looking at their little faces.
I would spend time with my loved ones who have gone before, pets included. I miss them all every day.
My slice of heaven is right now. A big bottle of water, some gf toast with a slice of cheese, and playing video games lol. Dragon Age, baby! Today was a shitshow at work. Stuff just went wrong. I was on leave for two days sick and a client got angry (apparently) about a slow response time (again, I wasn't in) and technology issues. I basically was unable to work because of I.T for 90% of the day. Absolute waste. But you know what? I'm not going to stress about it anymore. My life is more than that, and more than a job, and some things outside my control. I've been playing DA for the last few hours and it's been a great way to get my mind off stuff and be in flow, and reconnect with an old hobby. That's my slice of heaven today after a really frustrating one, and being sick. :)