I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and did a rather spontaneous Live earlier today. My first ever on Substack!

It was slightly nerve-wracking, but it was also really lovely to connect in a more immediate way. It’s basically a brief introduction to my publication here, what I’m hoping to create, and how I’d like this space to support thoughtful adult English learners.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined me live. And if you missed it, you can catch up here.

I’ll be popping on again soon as I get into the habit of doing this more regularly.

Jo

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We’re wrapping up this month’s topic of resilience, and I wanted to finish on a gentler note. Not with big strategies or motivational advice, but with a few small pleasures. The ordinary, easy-to-miss moments that help us keep going without us really noticing them.

In this audio I share a few of my own small pleasures, read an extract from one of my favourite books, Small Pleasures by The School of Life, and invite you to think about one of yours.

The vocabulary notes below cover words and phrases from the audio, including some useful everyday expressions as well as a few more literary ones from the book extract. There’s also a simple speaking prompt at the end to help you put your English into practice.

When you're ready to share, paid subscribers are welcome to leave a voice note in our Telegram group. Or if you'd prefer, simply leave a comment below. Either way, I'd love to hear your small pleasures.

I've also made a video exploring the language of small pleasures in more depth, if you'd like to watch that too:

If you'd like to explore further, you can find Small Pleasures by The School of Life on Amazon.

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Useful language from the audio

Here are some words and phrases from today’s audio that you might find useful.

to finish on a positive note – to end something in an upbeat or encouraging way. The word note here doesn’t mean a written note or a musical note, but rather a mood or tone. You can also end on a high note, or start on the right note.

to acknowledge something – to recognise or admit that something exists or is true. I talk about the tiny moments that keep us going without us really acknowledging them, meaning we benefit from them without consciously noticing or appreciating them.

to dip into – to read something occasionally rather than from start to finish. You dip into a book when you pick it up, read a little, and put it down again. “It’s one of my favourites to dip into.”

a lonely patch – a period of time when you feel lonely. In English we often use “patch” to describe a temporary phase: a rough patch, a difficult patch, a bad patch.

ridiculous – so silly or unreasonable that it makes you laugh. It’s a stronger word than silly and often has a warm, affectionate tone when used between people who know each other well.

to take something for granted – to not appreciate something because you are so used to having it. We use this phrase about relationships too: “Don’t take the people around you for granted.”

overly earnest – too serious or sincere about something. If someone is earnest, they mean everything very genuinely and deeply. Overly means too much. I’m saying I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big a deal of something small.

an act of gratitude – a way of showing or feeling thankful. In the case I suggest that simply noticing something can itself be a form of gratitude, even without saying it out loud.

to pay attention – to consciously notice or focus on something. I say I used to move through the seasons without really paying attention, meaning I was present but not truly noticing what was around me.

small shifts – subtle, gradual changes. A shift suggests a movement or change that may not be dramatic but is noticeable if you’re looking. “I notice the small shifts in my surroundings.”

an anchor – literally, the heavy object that stops a boat from drifting. Used figuratively here to mean something that keeps you steady and grounded when life feels unstable.

steadiness – a sense of calm and stability. The adjective is steady: not shaking, not panicking, not being swept away.

solace – comfort, especially at a difficult time. A slightly more formal or literary word. “A wealth of small pleasures which could daily bring us solace and joy.”

a wealth of something – a large and rich amount of something, not necessarily money. “All around us lies a wealth of small pleasures.” You might also hear a wealth of experience or a wealth of information.

to focus our gaze – to direct our attention and really look at something. Gaze is a sustained, thoughtful look rather than a quick glance. This is a slightly literary expression.

distinctive – having a quality that makes something clearly different from everything else, and therefore recognisable or memorable. “The distinctive delight of holding a child’s hand.”

intriguing – fascinating in a way that makes you want to know more. Something intriguing catches your attention and sparks your curiosity.

evocative – something that is evocative creates a strong feeling, memory, or image in your mind. Music, smells, and language can all be evocative. It’s a lovely word and very useful for talking about art, writing, or sensory experiences.

to heighten the senses – to make your senses sharper or more aware. Heighten means to increase or intensify. “Small pleasures that will heighten our senses and return us to the world with newfound excitement.”

to have a tendency to do something – to often or usually do something, sometimes without meaning to. It suggests a pattern of behaviour. “Knowing that you have a tendency to panic about being late.”

a sly reminder – a clever, subtle way of reminding someone of something, usually with a hint of mischief. Sly suggests it’s done quietly and knowingly, with a slight smile behind it.

old follies – past mistakes or foolish ideas. Folly (plural: follies) is a slightly old-fashioned but lovely word for something you did that wasn’t very sensible looking back.

A few of these words, like solace, evocative and follies, come from the book extract, so they have a slightly more literary feel. That’s worth noticing. Written English, especially in books, often uses richer or more formal vocabulary than spoken English. Part of reading in English is getting comfortable with that shift in register.