I've been doing this thing for the past few days where, after waking up around 8:30, I make a cup of coffee and then sit in bed drinking it while I peruse my emails and social networks and the food blogs I frequent. I think about the good things that have been going on, and I fill up my eyes with the morning sun (because THE SUN'S OUT GUYS OMG), and I make a rough plan of my day. If it doesn't go exactly according to plan, that's okay, but more often than not, it follows some semblance of what I originally thought. I'm aware this ritual will probably die when I have to go back to work in a week and a half, but for now, it's sticking.
I've also been writing down three things that made me happy during the day, right before I go to bed. The rule: they can't be big things. I can't write down anything about jobs, or fellowships, or earth-shattering life events. It has to be little things my senses pick up: being able to smell spring on my morning run, or the way the poppy seeds sprinkle the top of a muffin. (Apparently there's a TED talk on this? I haven't seen it, but according to a friend who did, this activity teaches us to appreciate the now, and if you keep it up for 21 days or so, you start noticing the small good in every day.)
With that, I'd like to share with you some of the things I've been jotting down:
Finding a nature trail that leads to Hartenberg Park, a new place to run.
Dying of laughter in public as I text my friend Brandon about our misadventures of middle school.
Curry noodles and snow peas for dinner.
My neighbor, who I see almost every day now, who always smiles and gives me a "hallo" when we pass each other coming into/out of my building.
Remaining with my intention in yoga; observing my emotions without judging them.
A successful time dress shopping for a ball.
Taking a walk in my trenchcoat and Sperrys and not being cold.
The best piece of red velvet cake of my life at my new favorite cafe.
Breaking out my sunglasses again.
Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary show, complete with Norm Macdonald's Burt Reynolds impression.
My favorite student shyly asking if we could talk about her creative writing. (CAN WE?!?!)
Coldplay's "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall."
Storm clouds at sunset.
Photo booth pictures of happy couples someone dropped on the path.
And the list goes on. I've also been getting the urge to write again lately, and it's oh so pleasant to have that back in my life. It began with writing a play (my first full-length) to get some feelings out, and now one of my favorite professors is meeting with me about it when I come home for Easter break, aka I have to have the first draft done by then. But also, I was going through some old exercises I did for graduate school, and while most of them were rather dreadful, I found one that I really liked. I spiffed it up and submitted it, and that seemed to open the floodgates for more ideas. I found myself jotting down endless ideas for a new piece at lunch yesterday, and I stopped in the middle and realized how lovely it is to have that back.
Finally. There's nothing quite like sitting in your bed, drinking your coffee, looking out the window, and thinking, I've got to get to Berlin sometime this weekend. The charm of Europe, I suppose. I actually do have to get there; my program has our conference there next week. I'm looking forward to being back in my favorite city. I'm dreading the constant socialization and the panels that will last for hours. In short, I'm bribing myself there with promises of runs in the Tiergarten, coffee and cheesecake at Five Elephant, döner at Mustafa's, snakebites at Clash, and sitting on the couches at Hannibal, my favorite bar in the whole world, where I once stayed until 5 AM and once almost got run over crossing the street. For those things, it'll be worth it.
Have a lovely week.
