4 years ago, a man shared his '9 delights of life.' Then he met a stranger transformed by it.

When you close your eyes and go to sleep, what’s really important to you? It’s a question that’s been asked since the dawn of time, each time producing a different answer. Like everything else, ideas surrounding what makes life worth living have been reevaluated, reshaped, and redefined by scientists, theologians, and philosophers for millennia.

What makes a life meaningful? Photo by Mike Gorrell on Unsplash

Stoicism ruled in Ancient Greece and Rome, where virtue was prized above all else. Disciples during this time were constantly reminded that while we can’t control the ebbs and flows of life, we can learn to master our reactions. Stoicism offered a practical framework for ethical self-improvement and wisdom through cultivating virtue, embracing life’s many challenges, and accepting that which you cannot change (which is to say, a lot).

In contrast, thinkers like Charles Darwin and John Stuart Mill found that Humanism was the key to leading a happier, more fulfilling life. Human potential and dignity are paramount in this school of thought, which believes that building meaningful relationships, fostering empathy, and engaging with the world enrich our lives. Humanism champions the everyday beauty of being human, including quirks and imperfections.

Then, there's Utilitarianism, which creates meaning through math. An offshoot of consequentialism, utilitarianism asks us to consider the ripple effects of our actions. This philosophy is all about maximizing happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people possible, reminding us that our choices can—and often do—extend far beyond ourselves.

These are just a few ideas people have developed throughout history about what makes life worth living. But at the end of the day, what’s important in life isn’t dictated by a single philosophy. Each person gets to form their own ideology, a personal mosaic of pieces that reflect their unique experiences, values, and dreams.

"Inventing a new lifestyle philosophy"

Four years ago, on Twitter/X, user Brooks Otterlake (@i_zzzzzz) tweeted his personal philosophy, a short but potent list entitled “THE NINE DELIGHTS.” The tweet has been bookmarked over 3,000 times and is deceptively simple.

He writes, “Inventing a new lifestyle philosophy called ‘The Nine Delights,’ where each day, you try to experience at least three of the nine delights.”

THE NINE DELIGHTS

1. Walking Around
2. Fellowship
3. Deliciousness
4. Transcendence
5. Goofing
6. Amelioration (a fancy word meaning “to make better, or improve, something perceived to be negative gradually over time”)
7. Coitus
8. Enthrallment
9. ** WILDCARD **

Many commenters were quick to applaud The Nine Delights, with one writing, “Huge fan and long-time practitioner since I screenshotted this in 2021.” Another adds, “Just returning to this tweet in the new year to let you know I reflect on his daily and am so happy when I discover a delight happened to me in the day that I didn’t anticipate. [I started] adding it to my journaling: identify the delights in a day.”

New journaling prompt unlockedGiphy

Others shared their own contributions or lists. “I have a similar list [of seven joys],” one begins. “Food, sex, friendship/love, the sublime act of creation, the anticipation of acquiring a totem, being right, not having to answer to anyone.”

Another person chimes in with, “In the company of friends and colleagues, drinking wine from the skulls of your enemies could be examples of fellowship, deliciousness, and most certainly, goofing.”

Most replies and quote tweets fall into two camps: “This tweet inspired me to make my own list” or “This tweet changed my life, and I think about it constantly.” User @bimbologymajor was both.

"It's basically a religion to me."

Brooks Otterlake’s original post was published on June 25, 2021. As a viral hit-maker online, he probably never expected someone to remember his “The Nine Delights” list nearly four years later.

However, someone did. In February 2025, “Expert Bimbologist” wrote, “Cannot emphasize how much this actually, truly, changed my life. Been living by The Nine Delights for years, and it’s basically a religion to me.” Then adds, “It can actually be this simple.”

She also attached a photo of her version of the list, handwritten and color-coded on a sheet of binder paper, complete with her interpretations. Hers reads:

THE NINE DELIGHTS

1. Walking Around — Self-explanatory
2. Fellowship — Hanging out with friends
3. Deliciousness — Have a yummy lil’ treat
4. Transcendence — Feeling that you’ve “leveled up”
5. Goofing — Have a good laugh
6. Amelioration — Working towards the betterment of something, for example, working on a skill you want to improve
7. Coitus — F*ckin’
8. Enthrallment — Becoming incredibly engaged in something, hyper-focusing on something
9. ** WILDCARD ** — Anything delightful not mentioned above.

Enjoy every sandwich

A beautiful life, lived to its fullest, is not simply defined by career achievements, financial status, or accolades. As “The Nine Delights” reminds us, countless small, tiny, infinitely joyful moments also make up our lives—and they should not be taken for granted. Hiking a new trail when the air is crisp and fills your lungs. Laughing so hard that tears fall from your eyes. Catching up with a friend you haven’t seen in years.

In his book, Enjoy Every Sandwich: Living Each Day as If It Were Your Last, Lee Lipsenthal writes:

"The singer and songwriter Warren Zevon died of cancer in 2003. That year, he was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman asked him what he had learned in the process of dying, to which Zevon replied, ‘I learned to enjoy every sandwich.’ At the time, that struck me as simple and profound. I had used that line in many of my talks about life balance, but it seemed especially relevant to me now, as it was a sandwich after all that had led me to discover my cancer. I laughed to myself."

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

When we remind ourselves to pay attention to life’s smallest pleasures—the most minuscule of delights—only then can we enjoy them in their entirety, uninterrupted. Learning to recognize and appreciate these small delights, whatever they may be, is a step toward finding meaning, purpose, and peace in our lives. Or, at the very least, you’ll be eating a damn good sandwich.