More Joys

Since my last post I have been considering what some more of the small joys are. So here is the second half of the list of things that make life really worth it, even on the bad days:

• Tiramisu: If you have never tried this, you are missing out on one of the truly magical parts of life. The only thing better than tiramisu is tiramisu cheesecake. How can I get sad about a bad day when this exists?
  
  
  
  
  
• Baby animals: I could have split this into kittens, puppies, and other adorable baby animals, but wouldn't that be redundant? There is something so heartwarming about the tiny little, awkward, usually fluffy things. For example, I love foals. They are all legs and so awkward, but they grow up to be the most majestic, powerful creatures. It's inspiring.
  
• Chocolate covered strawberries: Yes, I am on a bit of a dessert kick, but honestly. Chocolate covered strawberries are amazing. Not just eating them, but the process of making them. It's so messy and fun to do with friends.
  

• Rain: Yes, rainy days can be depressing and dreary, but is there any sound more peaceful and promising of new life than rain pattering on the roof?
  

• Books: Really, guys. Books are a great thing. A well written story can transport you beyond any limitations in life and take you to worlds that you never knew existed. They can break your heart or bring the promise of new love. We want to be able to travel in time and space, but we already can through the pages written by amazing people.
  

• Handwritten letters: Remember when emails were exciting and new and we had such an abundance of letters it was hard to sort through them all? In these modern times where communication is always easily at our finger tips and handwriting is a thing of the past, it's so nice to receive a letter from someone who cares for you. Know they took the time to sit down and write by hand means so much.
  

Life is beautiful! Don't forget to pay attention. 

Little Joys

Life can be crazy. It can be draining, depressing, frustrating, and all around make you want to go back to bed and pretend you have no responsibilities. It's so easy to get caught up in the negative things and forget about how wonderful life really is. So, I'm going to take a moment to share about the small joys in my life that really should outshine getting caught in traffic or dealing with rude customers:

• Hearing a friend laugh: I know it's cheesy, but it's true. I had two girlfriends over last night for dinner and a movie and laughing together with them was probably the best way I've spent my time recently.
  

• Hearing a baby laugh: Along the same lines as the one above it. We all need to be real for a minute, listening to babies laugh is intoxicatingly joyful.
  

• The sun peeking through the trees: To the Midwest, I apologize. Just remember, this time is coming for you, too! But, honestly, there is almost nothing as peaceful as sun dappled tree leaves.
  

• Almond milk in coffee: While I don't really like to just drink almond milk, put it in coffee and it's a rather magical experience.
  

• Coloring books: Oh, stop being such an adult. You know you love a good coloring book. It relaxes your brain and brings out your inner child. Who cares about the office when there are puppies and kittens to color in! And don't stress about staying in the lines, abstract is good, too. Just ask Picasso
  
  

• Hummingbirds: But, really. How can we be upset about anything where there is something as magical (and adorable) as hummingbirds in the world?
  

• Flowers: I feel like I don't even need to explain this one, but I will. Flowers are so delicate, simple yet intricate, add color to even the most drab scenery, and can bespeak hope in the midst of incredible sorrow. Flowers are new life in the midst of our cement jungles. Flowers are amazing.
  

The more I added to this list the more I wanted to keep going...but then this post would be really long and I'd lost your attention! So, I may revisit this. But, it does make me wonder: these are some of the joys I've found. What are your joys?

Find Your Niche

I would like to take a minute and highly encourage you to stop what you're doing and create something. I don't care what you make, it could be a doodle, a poem, an awesome sandwich, a cup of coffee, or even just braiding your hair. Okay, stop reading, and do it right now. Ready? Go.
Did you do it? How do you feel? Like a little of your stress left through your fingertips? Like you did something worthwhile, even though it did nothing to progress your day? Like this really is the best sandwich you've ever eaten? Good. Now do it every day. Start with something small, find your niche and keep going. I promise it won't slow you down and make you miss an important meeting or keep you from that sink full of dishes. It'll just make you a lot happier while you fulfill those obligations. It'll let your mind breathe. We were made in the image of the One who created everything, so of course we have the drive to create something.
I forgot this for a long time. It wasn't letting my soul out to breathe. That's what writing is for me and I am so glad that I found my voice again. This last week has been amazing and I am so excited to keep pressing forward in this. The world looks a lot more inviting now that I'm brushing out the cobwebs in my head. I highly recommend finding your outlet. I promise you won't regret it.

Slow Your Roll

Why does everything have to be so fast-paced? Working at Starbucks, everything is about speed. We try to keep our drive-thru window time below 45 seconds and the we want to get our customers through our line in 3 minutes or less. When you're on bar, you're always working on two drinks at a time and leveraging the time your espresso machine takes to do things so that there is never wait time, you're always working.
These are good things in this industry, and I'm not knocking it, but I've realized that it is starting to affect the rest of my life. It's become incredibly hard to slow down. If you could see my browser right now I have six tabs open and I've flipped through all of them at least 5 times. This post isn't the only project I'm working on at this moment. When I need a second to think about what I'm going to write here, I switch to another tab and work on something else. I almost always have music playing or a movie on when I'm at home. I'm usually not really watching the movie, but I like the background noise. I can't handle silence anymore. The store were I work gets so loud and I'm there in the noise for eight hours everyday, so when I leave my brain freaks out if it's quiet.
I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, if you glance around in any coffee shop, on the bus, or even on the street you'll see most people with their faces in their phones. We are a multitasking nation and no one has, or really wants, time to breath. Even in our down time we need something occupying our minds. And, honestly, I'm not sure how to fix this problem. Everyone is tied up in their calendar through their various commitments, requirements, and obligations. In this fast paced society, how do we carve out time to really live? I highly recommend taking some time to slow down. Turn off your phone, pick up a book, and fall off the grid. Give your mind space to settle in. Because, as I've said before, life is beautiful and we're missing it.