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| Photo from Gary Pepper Girl |
Last weekend, while Trevor and I were en route to an adventure, I told him how whenever I’m feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, I think of all the things I love most in the world. You know, the little acts or things that you cannot live without. Or the small things that have the ability to bring you so much joy. Because in my head, whenever I’m feeling like I’m SO CLOSE to falling apart, the things that I love are the only glue that can put me back together. We rolled the windows down and rolled down PCH, just listing out the things we love to each other.
So, since it’s Monday and since I’ve been feeling like everything in my life has been falling apart lately, here’s a list of things I love, to remind myself just how good life really is:
- The act of reading an extraordinary book for the first time. That moment you finish it and you want to rewind time so you can read it and experience it for the first time all over again.
- Truffle cheese. Red wine. When the two are paired together, I melt.
- A great pair of denim. A great pair of cutoff shorts. Striped tops. White tees.
- Outdoor concerts.
- Driving with the windows down and a great song blasting from your stereo.
- Candles that smell good enough to drink.
- Trevor. I love every single thing about him. We celebrate six years in March and I LOVE that.
- Photography. Taking pictures and capturing moments forever.
- Sleeping on top of tons of pillows.
- Talking about movies. Analyzing movies. Finding out people’s favorite parts of the movies you love.
- Pedicures.
- The sunshine. Seventy-five degree weather. Big blue skies with no clouds in sight. If I’m at the beach when both of those things are happening, I’m in HEAVEN.
- The treasure hunt that exists in the act of thrift shopping. It’s far less about the clothes and easily about the thrill of finding something that no one else will have. Even better when I get to experience this with one of my friends.
- Avocados, tomatoes, chicken quesadillas, mac & cheese.
- Traveling. I love everything about it. Everything. But the thing I love most of all is the knowledge that whenever I travel, I take a piece of the culture home with me. There’s a great quote that goes, “Traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer” – and it’s the most accurate thing I’ve ever heard. Counting down the days till I get to jet off to a new destination.
- The feeling and smell of freshly washed clothes. Especially when you pull them straight from the dryer.
- Sunrises. Sunsets. Watching both of them with the people you hold near and dear.
- Twinkle lights.
- Hummus and pita, particularly on a summer day when you’re binge watching a TV show in a bikini and sundress.
- The fact that I’m relatively healthy.
- Having a sister. Especially one who is so close in age.
- Flowy dresses. That swish sound they make as you walk. And when the wind picks up and they billow around your thighs; it makes me feel like I can fly.
- How supportive my family is. And the idea of “home” – which is still so relevant in my life. The way that my close friends feel more like a part of my family than just friends.
- Hot pink. Blood red. Colors that make me want to jump into Morocco.
The list can actually go on and on forever, since I realize how fortunate I am and how blessed I am to have the opportunities in life that I do. I know that I’m capable, motivated and educated and that the ability to have and be these things are gifts and many are things that many people all over the world will never get to have.
And so, whenever I’m feeling down, I just think about all of these things and get myself into a happy place; a place that is filled entirely with love.
