she woke up like this at 41.

life is and has been and will be hard, so in a concentrated effort to sit and soak in the goodness that is being alive, here are a few of my very specific favourite things:

  • An everything shower with a great soundtrack and a glass of wine, and then you get into bed with clean sheets, and start a book you’ve been thinking about forever
  • Anyone saying “I’m proud of you” at any time, ever
  • Wiping flour-y hands on my super girly apron while making bread and feeling like I totally could have made it in the little house on the prairie (could totally not, but those are details)
  • Fleetwood Mac
when everyone loves overalls
  • When a dog you have never met before starts wagging their tail as you start talking to them and coming out with your hand ready to be sniffed
  • When a dog doesn’t really respond to someone that you don’t particularly like and you’re like, “i freaking knew it.”
  • Any time a student says “this is actually kind of fun,” which is high praise in fifth grade
  • Clipping your toenails after a long time
  • Stretching your back
  • “The Wild Robot”
  • Making eye contact with a coworker across the room during a ‘moment’ and knowing you’re going to dissect it later
so grateful for you!
  • Getting all the steps right in the “Cupid Shuffle” without having to check your left and right hands
  • People not believing i’m 41. Lie. i don’t care.
  • the song “hard place” by H.E.R.
  • Waking up before your alarm but feeling rested. 
  • Someone complimenting your handwriting
  • Ordering an iced coffee with oat milk because you are learning to respect your lactose intolerance and you pour in that tiny silver creamer of overpriced milk that won’t give you diarrhea, and you get to stomp your foot and sing that part in “You’re So Vain” where Carly Simon says “I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee.”
  • When any message on social media starts with “hey, i know we haven’t talked in forever, but i just wanted to say . . . “ and they go on to give you a shout out or key advice or share a memory
  • The way a match smells when you light it, and playing “how long until i burn myself”
  • Printing photos
  • Notifications when least expected
  • Making bread and it fills the house and your soul with goodness
  • NYT Connections with no mistakes!
  • Holding up my Duolingo streak for that stupid bright green owl
  • When my grandma answers the phone “hi, baby.”

and you? and yours? please share. we could all use a little joy.