Under the Weather

Blah. It feels as though the whole island has come down with a sneezy, sniffly, headachey cold. Note to future and hopefully wise self: Never say "I never get sick" because the next morning you're bound to wake up with a sore throat. 

As you can tell, I'm feeling a little under the weather today, and the fact that I feel like a basket of dirty laundry has given me leave to spend most of the day in Africa with Jules Verne. I have also consumed enough honeyed tea to drown a Democrat. 

All complaining aside, today I "happened" to watch this video by the ever-inspiring elmify:

Perfect timing. For a while there I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. So thanks to elmify, I did take that walk, and I did compile that list of things that make me happy. And once I started thinking of all the things I am thankful for, I couldn't seem to stop. Life isn't so bad, after all. God has given me so much - who am I to complain? He is the source of joy, of happiness, of peace.

For lack of a better place, I thought I'd post some of my favorite things here:

I smile just thinking about...

music

the sea

old-fashioned letter writing

the book of Psalms

early Sunday mornings and lazy Sunday afternoons

The Strawberry Pizza of Doom (with chocolate sauce)

dill-pickle trees

sea foam

the green flash

sailing ships

words
bonfires on the beach

Chopin's Nocturne in E Flat

geckos chirping on quiet evenings

learning how to really play the guitar

Jane Austen

remembering New England

imagining Old England

Pre-Raphaelites

Friday Friday Friday

sweaters

autumn

the inevitability of pumpkin spice lattes

toe socks

dark dark chocolate

Philadelphia

pens that work

Lemony Snicket

black-and-white photography

a general lack of ceilings

playing Jacuzzi

cramped bookstores

long walks

rainy art-museum days

laughter

...and finally...

my people - the family and friends that keep me going

If you've been feeling a little bummed out, or even if you're not, make a list of some of the people, places, and things that make you happy. It brings a little bit of perspective to a cloudy day. Be sure to let me know when and where you post your list! DFTBA