The pursuit of pleasure is one of the most basic instincts of human existence. Most things we do are aimed at achieving joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, a sense of well-being. Experiencing pleasure gives meaning to life. It elevates the level of our existence as humans from mere day to day survival and drudgery to vibrant, dynamic and purposeful living. What are the true pleasures of life? Anyone can list so-called simple, small pleasures in life, such as freshly baked bread and a bowl of tomato soup, soaking in a hot bath after a hard day, good music, laughing till tears come to your eyes. These are however sensory pleasures that are brief and don’t endure much beyond the actual experience. The truly great pleasures in life are less easily attained and require more thought, introspection and dedication. True pleasures could probably be defined as experiences that leave one with feelings of lasting satisfaction, serenity, joy and achievement. To my mind, the three greatest pleasures in life are to love, to give and to succeed. These three pleasures add up to, or are the components of the ultimate pleasure, namely to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. To love is a wonderful experience. It manifests itself in so many forms – platonic love or friendship, romantic love, spiritual love, love of oneself. Which of us has not experienced the heady, consuming love of a romantic relationship, where one’s thoughts and senses are so completely occupied by the person we love, and the pervasive sense of happiness that stays with one from the moment you awake till you go to sleep again? Then there is the deep and respectful love one feels for a parent, a mentor, a brother or a sister or the joy and pleasure derived from one’s love for a dear friend. Vitally important to anyone is to love yourself - to be able to look into a mental mirror and critically evaluate yourself as a person and be happy with the reflection. The action a