My Favorite Things: An Incomplete List
Living with a very different perspective on life is unique and beautiful, but largely uncomfortable. I don't find a lot of common ground with most people, largely because my experience includes a lot of pain (physical, mental and emotional) and ambiguity. This lends to a lot of genuinity (it's a word. I mean. I say so, even if blogger doesn't agree), a lot more honesty than most people live with or want to experience, even in brief interactions with me. This also means that I'm honest about the things(not always things) that comfort me. Here's a list... surely, an incomplete one. But one that I can think of off the top of my head:
Soft, floral smells
Pungent, spicy smells
Epsom salt baths
Freshly shaven legs (especially in clean sheets!)
Cuddling, hugging, back rubs, having my hair stroked/braided/styled, sitting in someone's lap, jumping on someone, using healing touch, scratching someone's skin, touching someone with my nose, being tickled (within reason... I'm a very ticklish person), dancing close to someone, sharing close interpersonal space with someone while meditating/doing yoga/reading/drinking tea/having a discussion/learning about anything/basically any time they'll let me, being picked up, being held around my waist... basically any kind of caring touch
Ice cream, even though it almost always makes me sick within an hour or so
Raw vegetables
Raw vulnerability in others
Raw vulnerability in myself
Arnica gel/salve/pills are literally just the most beautiful gift in the whole wide stinkin world
Telling someone what makes them a beautiful person and having them accept the compliment instead of getting uncomfortable (This also makes me a hypocrite because I am so terrible at accepting compliments)
Fire, flame, candles, flickering soft light
Reading in the bathtub
Reading in my bed
Carrying a treasured book with me in my purse
Reading in a crowded, but peaceful place
Coffee shop vibes
Libraries
Second hand bookstores
Vintage shops
College Campuses
The feeling of unpacking a stack of freshly bought books and touching their pages with wonder
Notes from wise friends who were or are or will continue to be in my life - no strong preference about which presence they have or had
Being left alone when I ask for it or walk away
Comfortable silence
Being held around my ribs while I lay in the fetal position when my body hurts or my mind is spinning or attacking me out of ill habit
Sushi
Bein' Nekkid' ... best feeling ever.
Discovering the essence of a person while shouldering the burden of their pain with them - my understanding of Namaste
Building an asana
Laying in Shavasana and trying to do it really well
Balasana - it feels so wonderful on my shoulders
Speaking of yoga...
Strength and power asanas - make me feel like a peaceful warrior!
Balance and stand asanas - change my perspective and give me a sense of faith in the world and what is coming for me - I love headstands/shoulderstands/handstands
Mudra work - brings the elements and character strengths I need through focus, stillness and breath control during meditation
Ayurvedic Chakra Work melding with my practice - healing hands as inspired during yogic work
Doing things with my body that make me feel capable - running and lifting and moving
Speaking of running - there are so many things that can happen on a run that I enjoy. The different kinds of runs are: (1) Angry run - I run to exhaust my frustration. I put on my diva music (mmmhhhhhmmm) and stride in my run, long, strong steps. By the time I'm done, the feelings are gone and I know the assertive, not aggressive solution to my problem.
(2) Happy run - Poor pacing, happy music, bubbly feeling, I go on a run to listen to music and see the things there are to see on my route. Usually I take a new route for no real reason and go exploring. Sometimes happy runs are just happy walks and I go barefoot and move my feet so I feel everything underneath them. I really connect with the ground.
(3) Upset/hurt run - I run to forget the emotional turmoil I'm in and refocus on the positive. I have a random playlist and I run until I feel better.
Eating any kind of ethnic food
Meeting someone who thinks differently than me with full respect for my way of thinking
The exchange between people only in their glance
Trusting my intuition
Focusing in on the spirit in church
Old, leather books
Drawing spiritual gems out of church material and sharing them
Inspiring and insightful quotes
Beautiful images
The majesty of a highly functioning and toned human body
The greater majesty of a broken, fractured, frail human body and the burgeoning spirit within
Quiet
Holding a dog, petting a dog, training a dog, loving a dog
Loving a cat
The rustic smell of horse fur and the feeling of stroking down their long nose feeling the exchange of trust
Getting to a place that not everyone else can go
Hiking and camping far enough that you find a place that feels tense to human presence, as though nature is nervous for you to be there and you've entered into a contract bound by stillness
Fresh air
The musk of a campfire
The elderly
People with special needs
Anyone who didn't speak English first
People with tattoos, tattoos that have stories
People's stories
Being surprised by who someone turns out to be
Solidarity
A good listener
A friend that I don't have to explain myself to
Poetry
Being feminine, but not in the constraints of our culture - "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou
Surprising someone with who I am
Forgiving someone who doesn't think they deserve it
Dancing to share joy
Reaching a meditative state during an acupuncture treatment
Deep tissue massage
Good posture
A really, really soft bed
A beautiful space all my own, that expresses who I am (my bedroom is my sanctuary)
Old churches
Old scriptures that aren't first touched by my hands, but have the lingering beauty of hundreds of worshipers prayers and pleas and tears and testimonies
Saying something when I have something to say
Being celebrated!
Science and research
Helping young women
Textbooks
Lanterns
Singing
Rhythmic American Folk Music
Guitar
Piano
Harmony
That feeling when loud sounds (fireworks, bass) make your chest wall thud
Laughter
Poop jokes
Being completely accepting of a lack of sophistication and totally childlike in a goofy sense of humor
Scrubs (the tv show)
Communing with Heavenly Father, thinking of him and my Heavenly Mother and what they need me to learn in all I do
Metaphor
Writing... expressing something in words that only can be written. Even if something is lost in translation between thinking and writing, writing so all is not lost.
Making christmas candy
Old pictures
Touching things of emotional significance
Visiting my Dad's grave and having conversations with him
Going to the temple
Crying when I need to
A clean, organized place to live
Twinkle lights
Waking up refreshed (... a rare occurence)
Splints, bandages and braces
Ibuprofen
Leather, braided, threaded jewelry
Cranky old ladies that love me
Wearing the perfect outfit to express what I'm feeling
Maxi skirts (the sweatpants of the dressy lady world)
Old movies
Ridiculously high heels
Sexy lingerie, even when no one sees it ;)
Warm, soft, cushy socks
Thigh high socks
Soft pullovers
Sports bras
Cooking for someone
Making something from my grandma's recipe
Buying really good for me food at a grocery store I really like
Hanging out and smelling things in Savory Spice Shop
Just anything at H-mart
My happy-jumping-flailing-after-a-good-phone-call spaz dance
Laying my bed and kicking my legs really fast after getting a nice text
Complimenting people behind their backs
Helping people when other people wouldn't
Giving homeless people granola bars and a smile
Disagreeing! It's wonderful.
Giggling
Imagining what kind of Mom I will be
Dreaming about living a thousand lifetimes and going to every college and talking to every professor and studying every topic for the rest of my life and doing every internship and researching every topic and discussing everything with the brightest minds in every industry.
Dreaming about skipping around the world and pretending to be from everywhere for about a year and then moving on.
Making movies that really touch people's hearts.
Finally taking the time in my life, just this past little while, to believe that someone, somewhere out there, might love me enough and more importantly - stand in awe-filled respect of me enough - to maybe just adore me enough to want to marry me. And if someone should grow into that state of mind, maybe I might just possibly find someone that I could do the same with and for. It's really just an idea, I'm not sure I believe in it, but I suppose I believe it could be where before I didn't think so.
Imagining all the tattoos I would get if I didn't know that Heavenly Father has other ways of helping me love my body and express myself. For the record, I would get a giant Phoenix wrapped around my ribcage with a coral colored eye on my sacral chakra, and a ganesh head on my left hip with a trunk wrapping onto my left rib and stomach.
Junk food. It hates me, but I love it.
Harry Potter, a half of a watermelon, a fork and the kitchen table.
Reading The Hunger Games and imagining I'm Katniss. Can't be bothered with boys, I have District 12 to save! And all that.
Ear cuffs and woven anklets
World Market and pretty much anything from it
Aromatherapy
My rainbow colored heart covered monkey
Rose the bunny
Pit bulls, rotties, pincers, shepherds, rhodesian ridgebacks, any dog breed with a bad rep. Also boxers, because they're cute.
Puppies.
Kittens.
Babies.
Getting on the floor with kids and getting in their world. They'll make up the best playtime you ever had.
Having a little girl in my lap who is enamored with the book I'm reading.
Little boys are just the most wonderful. Have you ever hung out with a four year old little boy? They're the most hysterical and reckless little hellions on the planet and I just love them for it.
Brave little girls.
Brave big girls.
Happy people
Sexy people (one in the same).
Books with decorated leather binding and gold foiled pages.
History
Anthropology
Human Physiology
Nutrition
Chinese Medicine
Western Medicine
Awkward, fumbling nerds who need a little reassurance
Religious, spiritually awake people
Stars, galaxies
Laying in the grass and seeing the stars and imagining the galaxies
Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye the Science Guy
Museums
The mythbusters
Explosions
Fireworks
Beardy men
Being stupid on the internet
Being smart on the internet
Nice doctors (they are RARE)
Hospitals
Sick people (they are nice)
THIS IS THE BEGINNING... this has sort of just become a list of things I'm grateful for. It will continue periodically.
Soft, floral smells
Pungent, spicy smells
Epsom salt baths
Freshly shaven legs (especially in clean sheets!)
Cuddling, hugging, back rubs, having my hair stroked/braided/styled, sitting in someone's lap, jumping on someone, using healing touch, scratching someone's skin, touching someone with my nose, being tickled (within reason... I'm a very ticklish person), dancing close to someone, sharing close interpersonal space with someone while meditating/doing yoga/reading/drinking tea/having a discussion/learning about anything/basically any time they'll let me, being picked up, being held around my waist... basically any kind of caring touch
Ice cream, even though it almost always makes me sick within an hour or so
Raw vegetables
Raw vulnerability in others
Raw vulnerability in myself
Arnica gel/salve/pills are literally just the most beautiful gift in the whole wide stinkin world
Telling someone what makes them a beautiful person and having them accept the compliment instead of getting uncomfortable (This also makes me a hypocrite because I am so terrible at accepting compliments)
Fire, flame, candles, flickering soft light
Reading in the bathtub
Reading in my bed
Carrying a treasured book with me in my purse
Reading in a crowded, but peaceful place
Coffee shop vibes
Libraries
Second hand bookstores
Vintage shops
College Campuses
The feeling of unpacking a stack of freshly bought books and touching their pages with wonder
Notes from wise friends who were or are or will continue to be in my life - no strong preference about which presence they have or had
Being left alone when I ask for it or walk away
Comfortable silence
Being held around my ribs while I lay in the fetal position when my body hurts or my mind is spinning or attacking me out of ill habit
Sushi
Bein' Nekkid' ... best feeling ever.
Discovering the essence of a person while shouldering the burden of their pain with them - my understanding of Namaste
Building an asana
Laying in Shavasana and trying to do it really well
Balasana - it feels so wonderful on my shoulders
Speaking of yoga...
Strength and power asanas - make me feel like a peaceful warrior!
Balance and stand asanas - change my perspective and give me a sense of faith in the world and what is coming for me - I love headstands/shoulderstands/handstands
Mudra work - brings the elements and character strengths I need through focus, stillness and breath control during meditation
Ayurvedic Chakra Work melding with my practice - healing hands as inspired during yogic work
Doing things with my body that make me feel capable - running and lifting and moving
Speaking of running - there are so many things that can happen on a run that I enjoy. The different kinds of runs are: (1) Angry run - I run to exhaust my frustration. I put on my diva music (mmmhhhhhmmm) and stride in my run, long, strong steps. By the time I'm done, the feelings are gone and I know the assertive, not aggressive solution to my problem.
(2) Happy run - Poor pacing, happy music, bubbly feeling, I go on a run to listen to music and see the things there are to see on my route. Usually I take a new route for no real reason and go exploring. Sometimes happy runs are just happy walks and I go barefoot and move my feet so I feel everything underneath them. I really connect with the ground.
(3) Upset/hurt run - I run to forget the emotional turmoil I'm in and refocus on the positive. I have a random playlist and I run until I feel better.
Eating any kind of ethnic food
Meeting someone who thinks differently than me with full respect for my way of thinking
The exchange between people only in their glance
Trusting my intuition
Focusing in on the spirit in church
Old, leather books
Drawing spiritual gems out of church material and sharing them
Inspiring and insightful quotes
Beautiful images
The majesty of a highly functioning and toned human body
The greater majesty of a broken, fractured, frail human body and the burgeoning spirit within
Quiet
Holding a dog, petting a dog, training a dog, loving a dog
Loving a cat
The rustic smell of horse fur and the feeling of stroking down their long nose feeling the exchange of trust
Getting to a place that not everyone else can go
Hiking and camping far enough that you find a place that feels tense to human presence, as though nature is nervous for you to be there and you've entered into a contract bound by stillness
Fresh air
The musk of a campfire
The elderly
People with special needs
Anyone who didn't speak English first
People with tattoos, tattoos that have stories
People's stories
Being surprised by who someone turns out to be
Solidarity
A good listener
A friend that I don't have to explain myself to
Poetry
Being feminine, but not in the constraints of our culture - "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou
Surprising someone with who I am
Forgiving someone who doesn't think they deserve it
Dancing to share joy
Reaching a meditative state during an acupuncture treatment
Deep tissue massage
Good posture
A really, really soft bed
A beautiful space all my own, that expresses who I am (my bedroom is my sanctuary)
Old churches
Old scriptures that aren't first touched by my hands, but have the lingering beauty of hundreds of worshipers prayers and pleas and tears and testimonies
Saying something when I have something to say
Being celebrated!
Science and research
Helping young women
Textbooks
Lanterns
Singing
Rhythmic American Folk Music
Guitar
Piano
Harmony
That feeling when loud sounds (fireworks, bass) make your chest wall thud
Laughter
Poop jokes
Being completely accepting of a lack of sophistication and totally childlike in a goofy sense of humor
Scrubs (the tv show)
Communing with Heavenly Father, thinking of him and my Heavenly Mother and what they need me to learn in all I do
Metaphor
Writing... expressing something in words that only can be written. Even if something is lost in translation between thinking and writing, writing so all is not lost.
Making christmas candy
Old pictures
Touching things of emotional significance
Visiting my Dad's grave and having conversations with him
Going to the temple
Crying when I need to
A clean, organized place to live
Twinkle lights
Waking up refreshed (... a rare occurence)
Splints, bandages and braces
Ibuprofen
Leather, braided, threaded jewelry
Cranky old ladies that love me
Wearing the perfect outfit to express what I'm feeling
Maxi skirts (the sweatpants of the dressy lady world)
Old movies
Ridiculously high heels
Sexy lingerie, even when no one sees it ;)
Warm, soft, cushy socks
Thigh high socks
Soft pullovers
Sports bras
Cooking for someone
Making something from my grandma's recipe
Buying really good for me food at a grocery store I really like
Hanging out and smelling things in Savory Spice Shop
Just anything at H-mart
My happy-jumping-flailing-after-a-good-phone-call spaz dance
Laying my bed and kicking my legs really fast after getting a nice text
Complimenting people behind their backs
Helping people when other people wouldn't
Giving homeless people granola bars and a smile
Disagreeing! It's wonderful.
Giggling
Imagining what kind of Mom I will be
Dreaming about living a thousand lifetimes and going to every college and talking to every professor and studying every topic for the rest of my life and doing every internship and researching every topic and discussing everything with the brightest minds in every industry.
Dreaming about skipping around the world and pretending to be from everywhere for about a year and then moving on.
Making movies that really touch people's hearts.
Finally taking the time in my life, just this past little while, to believe that someone, somewhere out there, might love me enough and more importantly - stand in awe-filled respect of me enough - to maybe just adore me enough to want to marry me. And if someone should grow into that state of mind, maybe I might just possibly find someone that I could do the same with and for. It's really just an idea, I'm not sure I believe in it, but I suppose I believe it could be where before I didn't think so.
Imagining all the tattoos I would get if I didn't know that Heavenly Father has other ways of helping me love my body and express myself. For the record, I would get a giant Phoenix wrapped around my ribcage with a coral colored eye on my sacral chakra, and a ganesh head on my left hip with a trunk wrapping onto my left rib and stomach.
Junk food. It hates me, but I love it.
Harry Potter, a half of a watermelon, a fork and the kitchen table.
Reading The Hunger Games and imagining I'm Katniss. Can't be bothered with boys, I have District 12 to save! And all that.
Ear cuffs and woven anklets
World Market and pretty much anything from it
Aromatherapy
My rainbow colored heart covered monkey
Rose the bunny
Pit bulls, rotties, pincers, shepherds, rhodesian ridgebacks, any dog breed with a bad rep. Also boxers, because they're cute.
Puppies.
Kittens.
Babies.
Getting on the floor with kids and getting in their world. They'll make up the best playtime you ever had.
Having a little girl in my lap who is enamored with the book I'm reading.
Little boys are just the most wonderful. Have you ever hung out with a four year old little boy? They're the most hysterical and reckless little hellions on the planet and I just love them for it.
Brave little girls.
Brave big girls.
Happy people
Sexy people (one in the same).
Books with decorated leather binding and gold foiled pages.
History
Anthropology
Human Physiology
Nutrition
Chinese Medicine
Western Medicine
Awkward, fumbling nerds who need a little reassurance
Religious, spiritually awake people
Stars, galaxies
Laying in the grass and seeing the stars and imagining the galaxies
Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye the Science Guy
Museums
The mythbusters
Explosions
Fireworks
Beardy men
Being stupid on the internet
Being smart on the internet
Nice doctors (they are RARE)
Hospitals
Sick people (they are nice)
THIS IS THE BEGINNING... this has sort of just become a list of things I'm grateful for. It will continue periodically.
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