I’m sure everyone is familiar with Julie Andrews song “My Favorite Things” from "The Sound of Music." First off, I hope you’re not having a bad day, but if you are, take Fräulein Maria’s advice and come up with some of your favorite things -- “then you won’t feel sooo bad.” And it works. We encounter so many situations that make us upset and frustrated but taking time to remember and relive experiences that you like helps a lot. Here are a few of my favorite things.
1. Laying in bed while it rains
The best way to fall asleep is to the rain. If it’s raining when you're trying to wake up, you know it’s going to be even more difficult. There is a calming, serene feeling to just closing your eyes and listening to the rain on the roof.
2. Wearing spin-y dresses
This one’s for the ladies or anyone who has tried on a dress. If you haven’t, you are missing out, my friend. Just by spinning in a light circle while wearing a flowy dress brings a smile to my face. It’s hard to describe the feeling, but the closest description I can think of is that it makes you feel like a princess. Think back to the time when you were twirling in the kitchen -- I know I remember how it felt.
3. Dancing in the rain
If you have never done this, it is a must. Take an umbrella, leave the umbrella, but whatever you do, dancing in the rain is one of the most freeing things in life. Open yourself up to nature and close your eyes. In that moment, you are absorbing the world, and it feels like you can dance forever. Play some music and reenact the scene from "Singing in the Rain" -- as goofy as it sounds, it’s actually very fun.
4. Watching the sky
One of my favorite quotes is from a children’s novel by Julie Andrews titled "The Last of the Really Greaat Whangdoodles":
“Have you noticed how nobody ever looks up? Nobody looks at chimneys, or trees against the sky, or the tops of buildings. Everybody just looks down at the pavement or their shoes. The whole world could pass them by and most people wouldn't notice.”
Watch the clouds, watch the stars; look at the world from a different view. You’d be surprised how it puts your life into perspective when you look into the unknowing universe.
5. Knowing every word to an old song
Go onto Pandora, play the 00s hits, and I promise you’ll hear songs you had forgotten existed but somehow know every word. It still amazes me how many song lyrics I can recall offhand but still have to say my ABC’s to remember which letters come before and after L. Belt out these forgotten songs and enjoy them!
6. "Give Me Love"
Okay friends, if you have never heard Ed Sheeran’s song “Give Me Love,” I’m going to ask you to stop reading and to look it up. If you have heard it, I hope you can agree that it is one of the most beautiful songs ever. The guitar chords played and his voice make me want to melt into bed and listen forever. This is on my list of favorite things because it’s a song where you can both sing along and have your mind wander to different things. I hope you fall in love with it.
7. Opening new books
If you like reading as much as I do you will understand the energy that is released when you open a book for the first time. The bind cracks slightly and every page is soft paper. That book is yours to read, to explore, and to love.
