The Little Things

Today I read a quote by Garth Stein which said:

"to live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how i would like to live."

If I'm being honest, I've been really hard on myself lately and not really enjoying life. I let the days blend together and really have not been appreciative of the great life I have. This quote really made me stop for a moment and ponder about what I would like my day to be like if I knew it was my last. It's a humbling thought. If you think about it, there is absolutely no guarantee that you'll make it through the day. No guarantee that when you go to bed tonight, you'll wake up in the morning. I realize this is an utterly depressing thought, but it doesn't have to be.

 I know there are things that all of us want to do before we kick the bucket. I know I have an enormous list that mostly involves traveling to exotic destinations, but at the end of the day, my life will not be a complete waste if I leave this earth without having seen the Eifel Tower, or having stood on the Great Wall of China.

It's not really the places we've seen that matter, but it's really about noticing the little things that make each day unique from the rest. It's about the people we meet and experiences we embrace. I love/hate that moment when you get pulled back inside your head and realize that for a moment you've been completely present in the now. You've been engaged in life.

I don't want to look back and wish that I'd paid more attention to little things. I have a tendency to spend most the day inside my own head and not really pay attention to the people and things surrounding me. Beginning today, I want to change this. I want to be as present as possible and to kick this off, I thought I might share a few of the little things that make me happy.

1) Driving with the windows rolled down.

2) The feeling after you've spent the day in the sun and you return home to a nice cold air conditioned house.

3) Blackberry lemonade

4) Inappropriate jokes

5) Hearing your favorite song on the radio

Oh, and since I totally spaced on doing a playlist yesterday

(bowing head in shame)

here is a playlist of a few songs that always put me in a good mood.

Enjoy!

Tuesday Tunes

When I started this blog not too long ago, I promised that I would really show who I am and what I love. I know I've been a little sketchy about posting, but I'm trying to do better.

Anyway, a huge love of mine is music. I've loved it for as long as I can remember. A new thing I want to try on this blog is posting a playlist every tuesday.

I'll try and do some sort of fun theme or something each week, but to start us off, I'm going to put up a shuffle list.

The shuffle list is probably the best way to get to know someone because it is so raw and...uncensored.

Well hopefully you like it and maybe will get to know me a little better.

  



Falling In Love...

I won't deny that I am a hopeless romantic at heart

I often fantasize about a guy standing underneath by window blasting a little Peter Gabriel from a massive boombox (actually, let's switch that fantasy up a little bit. No Peter Gabriel please. Konstantine by Something Corporate is what will make this girl go weak in the knees.)

Moving on...

I love thinking about love and yet I don't believe I have ever been "in love"

There are many people in my life that I love, and there was once a boy in my life that I thought I could love, but it just never progressed to that head over heels, can't live without you, kind of love.

Today while perusing the blogersphere, I came across this lovely tidbit of wisdom on love from none other than John Steinbeck.

This is a letter he wrote to his son who had just written professing his love for a girl named Susan:

New York

November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

Is that not one of the greatest things you've ever read? I wish everyone could read this before they went around trying to convince themselves and everyone else that they completely understand such a complex emotion.

Sorry, that was the cynic in me speaking out for a moment.

Anyway, If you are truely "in love" and are terrified of professing this love, just remember this awesome quote:

"Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, literally 20 seconds of embarassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it."   - We Bought A Zoo

                                

Downton Abbey

I'm a little behind on this one, but I just recently began watching Downton Abbey and I have to admit that I'm a wee bit addicted.

I just finished the first season last night (which is availabel for streaming on Netflix) and I'm completely obsessed with the relationship between Mary and Matthew. It's so real and believable, which is extremely refreshing since that is something that seems to be lacking in so many current television shows.

I also really enjoy the father daugher relationship between Mary and Carson. He's always so supportive of her, especially when her father can't give her the attention and support she craves.

Every part of the show is done so extremely well, from the acting to set design, everything about the show is beautiful.

If you're not yet convinced about the show, just read this little snippit and tell me you don't want to know the back story behind it:

" You've lived your life, and I've lived mine. Now it's time we live them together."

Now get thee hence and go watch some Downton Abbey!

Hold Me In Your Arms

Image via flickr

"I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while."
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami

Black Keys: Hold Me In Your Arms by courtneydorothea111

Quiet Prayer

"'As long as the sun shall rise' goes the old lover's vow. But we are children of a scientific age and have no time for poetry. Still, I offer a quiet prayer of thanks for the sunlight each time I see your face."

Brian Andreas


Untitled (Love Song) by the romany rye

Bittersweet

"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short."

Brian Andreas

I Feel Beautiful...

In that moment right before bed when all the make-up is gone and my hair is beautifully disheveled. That's when I feel like I could conquer the world.

Emmylou by First Aid Kit

Dream A Little Dream

I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a dreamer at heart. I have this very idyllic vision of what my future will be like once everything falls into place and world peace has been realized.

I imagine coming home to my dream house and being greeted by my dogs Roscoe (a Boston Terrier) and Lola (French Bulldog)

(Which I do not yet own)

And right behind them will be the man of my dreams

You know, some guy I met at the gym with "Brad Pitt's face and Jesus' abs."

(Yes, I did just swipe that from 500 Days of Summer...sue me)

And instantly feeling at peace. Like everything is suddenly perfect in this crazy little universe.

I imagine us always having stimulating conversation and never ever fighting.

Nope, no raised voices in this fantasy.

Sure we'll argue, but it'll be over stupid stuff like what is The Beatles greatest song (it's Blackbird...don't even try to argue this one with me) or whether we should order Chinese or Indian for dinner.

It'll be perfect.

But, at the back of my mind I always know that this is not how it's going to be. I know we'll have good nights where maybe the fantasy will seem completely real...

But there will also be nights when there will be yelling and fighting and I'll sink down onto the cold bathroom floor in tears.

There will be bad times

There always are

But there are also times that you wouldn't trade for anything in the world. And those are the ones that keep you going.

And when good memories aren't enough to pull you out of a slump, there's no harm in doing a little daydreaming on the side

Which reminds me....

I should probably start going to the gym