Things I Love

Everyone’s got their little joys in life. Here are some of mine.

Friendly TSA people at the airport

There’s no reason to be grumpy or dick-ish. What a breath of fresh air when they are smiling and friendly (like on the demo videos you watch while you’re waiting in line).

Lists

Feels so good to be organized and prioritized.

Barely making green light

Such a pleasure knowing that you’ll get to where you’re going 25 seconds faster

Cutting ahead of someone who has slowed down to turn in the right hand lane

The open road beckons.

Getting in your car and using wipers for the first time after rain

Something satisfying about getting the big drops and softened grime off with that first wipe.

Iced tea with the perfect sweetness

Too sweet is gross, unsweet is plain. Just a little sweet? Heaven.

Going for walks

Of all the methods to being peace and calm to an overstressed brain, for me going for a gentle walk is just about the only thing that works. It’s been proven that going for walks stimulates the amygdala with sensory input that distracts it from the feedback loop of anxiety and fear. Bonus that it’s good for the body, too!

Guessing the time and nailing it when you check your watch or phone

Makes you feel like you’re one with the universe. This is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning, guessing the exact time before checking. It’s amazing how accurate the clock in your brain is sometimes.

Directness

Don’t pretend or beat around the bush or deflect. Let’s hear it straight.

Knowing more than the salesman

Sometimes, someone will dive into a sales pitch or start droning on about a topic. I like silently assessing early on that I’m more knowledgeable than they are on the given subject and gleefully wait for the moment when it will become apparent to them as well.

Anything interesting or funny

Be one or both, and people will be all in. You have their full attention, and they will soak it up.

Word synchrony

When I’m thinking of something very specific (like “bagels”) or coming across a very obscure word (like “laundromat”) while reading and simultaneously hearing the word on a podcast or on the TV playing in the background.

Dirty laundry water

For some reason, I am fascinated watching the water during the first cycle as the dirt comes out of the clothes and changes the color of the water.