Life is so. Friggen. Good.
I've just come to this conclusion that we don't need anything elaborate in life to be happy. I mean, I love vacationing. I love going to movie premiers or roller skating rinks or indulging a little to go to concerts {Bryan & I had a BLAST seeing Imagine Dragons with a beat so strong it vibrated our bones and lights so colorful we could see them behind closed eyelids!}, but we don't even need that to feel like we can't stop smiling.
Yesterday Bryan and I went out for gelato. We didn't really have any official plans for the date, but I knew his jaw was hurting from getting his wisdom teeth removed and he could use something cold {under the influence of medication, his mom recorded him calling me "the whole package shipped in a half package," among other hilarious things}. So we meandered around the mall modeling snapbacks and playing with puppies at the pet store, jokingly covering each others eyes while passing Victoria's Secret and laughing about how the workers might react if we-- two high schoolers-- walked into the jewelry holding hands & pretending to look at engagement rings, debating prices, and asking to try one on {OK, he didn't really think it was funny, but I had to laugh at the idea, since I know girls not much older than me getting married and it freaks the heck outa me}. When we got our gelato, we found a little bench in a quieter part of the mall and just chilled for an hour and a half. Who says we need something fancy to have fun? We just chatted and chatted and ate our dessert, I being my clumsy self somehow getting dark chocolate all over the front of my shirt. Bryan sprawled out on the bench with his head in my lap and we wrote bucket list ideas on a napkin {me the scribe with his forehead the desk}. After it was all over, he found a poker chip in the parking lot for me to keep as a "memoir" and I honestly could've stop smiling despite pretty much just going on a date of doing nothing at all.
I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm not EXTREMELY lucky to live a life in a good home with a good school surrounded by amazing people. But I do think that everyone can improve their own lives by finding joy in the little things.
I'm a rather silly person entertained easily. But is that a bad thing? I find joy when little Sophie throws her arms around me and tells me about outer space. I find joy my friends and I start conversing in weird accents. I find joy when I get my homework and chores done Saturday morning instead of Sunday night and thus have absolutely nothing to do-- and am privileged to entertain myself by Googling "unexplained mysteries" on the Internet or trying on new makeup techniques with that cheap Mac Photo Booth app.
I find joy in reading a good book in my PJs. In fresh fruit that tastes like dessert. In seeing people's faces light up after a compliment. When one of my school teachers proposes some mind-blowing idea. When I start doodling in class for no reason and the crappy little sketch I only intended on doing to make the time go faster turns into a drawing I'm proud of. When I go through old photos and videos that remind me of my childhood. When I've just worked out at track and I feel the kind of good sore that makes you feel strong and healthy and accomplished. When a really good song on the radio provides the perfect opportunity to put on my hot-pink sunglasses, roll down the windows, and dance in my car.
I've just come to this conclusion that we don't need anything elaborate in life to be happy. I mean, I love vacationing. I love going to movie premiers or roller skating rinks or indulging a little to go to concerts {Bryan & I had a BLAST seeing Imagine Dragons with a beat so strong it vibrated our bones and lights so colorful we could see them behind closed eyelids!}, but we don't even need that to feel like we can't stop smiling.
Yesterday Bryan and I went out for gelato. We didn't really have any official plans for the date, but I knew his jaw was hurting from getting his wisdom teeth removed and he could use something cold {under the influence of medication, his mom recorded him calling me "the whole package shipped in a half package," among other hilarious things}. So we meandered around the mall modeling snapbacks and playing with puppies at the pet store, jokingly covering each others eyes while passing Victoria's Secret and laughing about how the workers might react if we-- two high schoolers-- walked into the jewelry holding hands & pretending to look at engagement rings, debating prices, and asking to try one on {OK, he didn't really think it was funny, but I had to laugh at the idea, since I know girls not much older than me getting married and it freaks the heck outa me}. When we got our gelato, we found a little bench in a quieter part of the mall and just chilled for an hour and a half. Who says we need something fancy to have fun? We just chatted and chatted and ate our dessert, I being my clumsy self somehow getting dark chocolate all over the front of my shirt. Bryan sprawled out on the bench with his head in my lap and we wrote bucket list ideas on a napkin {me the scribe with his forehead the desk}. After it was all over, he found a poker chip in the parking lot for me to keep as a "memoir" and I honestly could've stop smiling despite pretty much just going on a date of doing nothing at all.
I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm not EXTREMELY lucky to live a life in a good home with a good school surrounded by amazing people. But I do think that everyone can improve their own lives by finding joy in the little things.
I'm a rather silly person entertained easily. But is that a bad thing? I find joy when little Sophie throws her arms around me and tells me about outer space. I find joy my friends and I start conversing in weird accents. I find joy when I get my homework and chores done Saturday morning instead of Sunday night and thus have absolutely nothing to do-- and am privileged to entertain myself by Googling "unexplained mysteries" on the Internet or trying on new makeup techniques with that cheap Mac Photo Booth app.
I find joy in reading a good book in my PJs. In fresh fruit that tastes like dessert. In seeing people's faces light up after a compliment. When one of my school teachers proposes some mind-blowing idea. When I start doodling in class for no reason and the crappy little sketch I only intended on doing to make the time go faster turns into a drawing I'm proud of. When I go through old photos and videos that remind me of my childhood. When I've just worked out at track and I feel the kind of good sore that makes you feel strong and healthy and accomplished. When a really good song on the radio provides the perfect opportunity to put on my hot-pink sunglasses, roll down the windows, and dance in my car.
Sometimes I have to remind myself to let the little things go and to not get easily hurt by things that don't really matter. With this mindset, I promise, life becomes so much better.
