These are a few of my favorite things...

Have you ever taken the time to simply focus on specific things that you like, and are grateful for?

Sometime when I have trouble sleeping, decompressing, or just want a 'warm-fuzzy' moment, I tend to mentally itemize things that have special meaning to me.

As a chronic list writer, I decided to document these thoughts for my daughter.  I woke up in the wee hours of a morning, went in another room, turned on a soft light, and let my mind go. It was such a great opportunity to delve into my own self-awareness.

If you have never done this, I urge you to do so.

Not just in your mind, but releasing these positive thoughts, these things that make you happy, into your physical and personal space. Write them down and keep them somewhere where you can access them in times when positive thoughts are needed to soothe and inspire you.

Good things:

Yahweh, the Bible, prayer, my daughter and husband, babies hands and feet, shaved legs rubbing against high thread count sheets, live theater, favorite songs, Autumn, rain, the perfect lip balm, MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC, cards in the mail, BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS, cut grass, first day of school, first snows, NYC!!!, accomplishments, honesty, poetry, kisses, new car smell, shoes that fit perfectly, silver, Mont Blanc writing instruments, football, condiments, cook out food, seafood, comfort food, free food, home made baked goods, showers, massages, clean clothes, good moisturizer, lotion, nakedness, nail polish, toe rings, fresh fruit, cool air, summer nights, silk, vegetables, PIZZA, cats, puppies, ladybugs, reunions, encouragement, birthdays, shopping, laughter, memories, peppers, lemonade, cider, hot tea served from a tea pot, sangria, sandals, trust, friendship, epiphanies, pie, strength, cleanliness, hand made jewelry, humor, snuggling, nice hotels, socks, chocolate, isotoner gloves, private jokes, public abandon , neti pots, incense, hot sauce,old movies, hugs, solitude, plants, and tears.

Whew!

Once I was finished, it was almost as if in reading the list, I was able to step outside myself and look at me, from the outside looking in. What started out as brainstorming became release. What resulted from release was a patchwork quilt of my 'me-ness'; the me that I know and love. The best parts of me.

These thoughts make me feel happy every time I revisit them.

I could have filled a notebook with these thoughts, an pehaps that is just what I will do