Hello from the corner of our blue couch that is now so lived in, I am basically imprinted in the cushion. (Think: Hollywood Walk of Fame. But butt cheeks.) The armrest makes a noise when your elbow presses it too hard, but it is my favorite place to snuggle up. Dan and I talk about needing to switch up where we sit, but isn't there just something about your spot?
I don't have much to write home about, but in more personal news: I have finally (finally!) been addressing years of digital disorganization and am slowly making my way through the thousands of notes in my phone, finding a place for each of them – similar to how
my first book came together! In the process, I stumbled across a list of lessons I was keeping for a two month span two years ago and thought it might make you smile or give you hope.
🌼 Stop and watch often. You will always learn something, or simply witness something beautiful. These moments are where hope lies.
🌼 A day of art will always make life feel purposeful again.
🌼 Life is too short to feel like you don’t belong. There will always be a place where you feel welcome. Always. Leave now and go find it.
🌼 Paint your nails a pretty color because why not.
🌼 Sit outside more often. (Bonus points for bringing tea.)
🌼 Life is meant to be shared, not EVEN with strangers, but ESPECIALLY with strangers.
🌼 Try something completely new to you OFTEN. It will awaken something in your soul every time and combat the sourness that life brings.
🌼 Give it time. It will heal in ways you never thought it would.
🌼 The ocean is the cure for a clouded mind. Visit it often.
🌼 If you have the courage to leave behind the thing you don’t like, no matter how embarrassing or hard it might be, you will be rewarded for it.
🌼 You will get through the trip. Don’t stress any of the small things.
🌼 No matter how cool it may seem to hate everyone from your youth: it’s not. You don’t have to explain your more intricate layers to your oldest friends.
🌼 Keep your old, personalized jewelry, if you can. It will come back around.
🌼 If you walk outside on a Saturday with nothing to do, you might stumble across something even more magical than you could imagine.
I can only loosely remember what sparked some of these, but others, I don't. Keeping lessons written down, for me, is like a more fun form of diary-keeping. Well, “fun” if you like chaos. Not fun if you prefer to know exactly what was happening in your life and when.
All I know is, so much has changed in two years. I wrote these at a time where I felt betrayed and confused by many friendships. Now I couldn't feel more happy with the people in my life. I wrote these while navigating a bad work environment, followed by another. Now I finally feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. I also wrote these when I was relatively well. I had no idea that a year later, I'd be rattled by grief and depression and start anxiety medication, then become well once again. I wrote these I was living in North Carolina. Now I'm in New York City. So much changes. Count on that. Good is coming.
Maybe these little wonders will end up in Note to Self 2 (?!), or maybe they'll land right here. Either way, I hope they bring beautiful thoughts today.
