Making Me Happy
December 12th, 2012
Hola honey! I’ve decided to do things a little differently for Making Me Happy this week.
Inspired by the gorgeous Tanya Geisler - and with gratitude permeating every cell of my being – I’m taking this post on a little journey.
I present to you: Things I Love, a (not definitive) list of things that light me up and soothe my soul:
Tender ‘I love you’s’ whispered in the middle of the night. Hand-holding in bed. Unhinged silliness. The kind of delirious laughter that brings tears to your eyes. Exercise, movement, a thumping heartbeat. Mexican food. Asian food. The adrenalin rush of an inspired idea. The faculties of the mind. Coaching, guidance, lifting up. The ocean. Ancient traditions, rituals, cultures and customs. Mary Oliver. Rumi. Rilke. Entrepreneurship. Witty captions on animal photos. Books, glorious books. Post-long run highs. 11:11.
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Unrelenting commitment. Exploration and adventure. Soul sistas. List-making. Kinesiology. Being married to the most beautiful person I know. Family. The crispness of a new Moleskine journal. Colour. Effortless style. Scandinavian design. Neons. Artisans. Lip gloss. Michael Jackson. Alternative music. Booty-shakin’ RnB/ pop/ dance beats. Tickles. Creative sovereignty. My parent’s hybrid accents. Clean sheets. Crystals. Gut-knowing. Green juice vigour. Swirly, free-flowing handwriting. Rosehip oil.
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Unapologetic exclamation mark use (see! and!!) Peonies. Meditation. Shower sparks (of the ‘aha!’ moment variety) Familiarity – call me Rach, please. The un-self-conscious ease of a child experiencing joy (usually evidenced by bounding/ twirling/ cartwheeling/ running with glee) Gold and silver sequins. Mornings. Rustic outdoor tables decorated with candles, wine, wildflowers and conversation. Soul-stirring documentaries. Biographies. People – people with stories and big dreams. History. The Internet. The warm, shaky hand of an old soul. Deeply etched lines on the face of a human who has lived. H20. Intention, elegance, eloquence and desire.
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There’s so much more but I believe these things should just pour out unedited, and this is my outpouring today.
What about you?
What treasures shimmer and sparkle on your Things I Love list? Inspire us in the comments below!
Image: The Road is Home
Tags: making me happy
December 12th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Lovely listmaking, my sweet! Can I join the chorus?
Surprises from my man. Christmas lights. The tantalising feeling of holidays being oh-so-near. Buying gifts for people I love and imagining the look on their face. The ocean. Massive changes. Carpe-ing my diem. Knowing that opportunity and potentiality is a reality. My family, in all its crazy glory. Organic eggs from happy chickens. Cheese – oh cheese! Long long walks on beautiful summer evenings. Learning and listening. Love and loving. Hugs, especially when he lifts me just off my feet. Philosophising between the sheets. Spaciousness – inside and out. Sharing life.
December 12th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Jess: Thank you for making this post infinitely better with your lovely list!
I seriously melted over the hugs” part – the cute. Oh my, the cute. xx
December 12th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
This entire post makes me happy… thank you! I’ve been on a steady stress roller-coaster thanks to grad school finals but the Parisian Christmas spirit and those moments (no matter how few or far between) I spend with friends at one of our preferred hang-outs (only discovered in the past few months) remind me how much I have to be happy about and thankful for. And when it really gets to me, the price is more than right on my favorite glass of wine and a bite of dark chocolate is never too far away. Both are enough to put a huge smile on my face ;).
December 12th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Candle light in the early morning. Playing the piano. Finnish nature and fresh air. Soft glow of salt and selenite lamps. Trusting my intuition. Having kale chips for breakfast. White sheets and t-shirts. Creating art. Making someone else happy. Listening to my cat snoring. House dance. Salsa. Hula hooping. Jazz. Hip hop. Reading in bed. White space. Beautiful fonts. Simplicity. Connecting with like minded, beautiful souls. Raw chocolate. Stars in the night sky. Street art. Clay. Herbal teas. Blue moments. Golden evening light that reflects from the windows. Fresh flowers. Skype calls with family and friends. Laughing so hard that I can’t breath. Woolen socks. Old movies. Sauna. Musicals. Old buildings. Being together without needing to talk and still being understood.
December 12th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Goodness what a beautiful post!! I’m going to have to get onboard, reading this and the lovely comments has made me feel all warm and fuzzy :)
Synchronicity. Calls at just the right moment. Uplifting text messages. Unexpected sunshine. Realisations. Bright nail polish and freshly coiffed hair. Hot skin after a day outside. The way he places his hand on my knee while we watch TV. Smiles from my baby brothers. Grandma cuddles.
Blissfully sweaty yoga classes. Coffees with friends when hours pass unnoticed. Comfy home pants that are just right. Doing your hair to work at home because it feels fancy. Connections in new places. Heartfelt words. Happy tears.
Thanks Rach xxxx
December 13th, 2012 at 6:39 am
Oh Rach, you gorgeous, inspired and kind soul! You always brighten my day exponentially, so thank you for bringing light + love + gratitude into my world every week! Ok, here goes my outpouring of love and happiness:
Meditation + adventures + laughter with friends + spontaneous road trips + hot coffee on cold, Canadian mornings + porridge + statement necklaces with blazers and jeans + solitude + growth + music, the never-ending soundtrack to my life + blogging + green tea + planning my upcoming NYC trip + dreaming & scheming + Skype dates with my Mum & Muggy in Australia + the smiles on my students’ faces + Caramelo Koalas to remind me of home + catching snowflakes on my tongue + planning for the big, bright, beautiful year that will be 2013 + offers of help from home + connecting with new souls over the Internet + the knowledge that I will be home in Australia and reunited with my loved ones in 3 very short weeks after 6 months of travelling abroad…and gingerbread men (addicted!!!)
All my love, always xoxo
December 13th, 2012 at 6:41 am
Love, love, love this! Okay, here we go:
The smell of rain on hot bitumen and the sound of it on a tin roof. Full-encompassing laughter from a child. Beach days with a good book and stash of magazines. Cat cuddles. A touch on the curve of my back when we’re out – such a little gesture but I melt. Good red wine. Worn, brown leather lounges. Danish furniture. Long-winded phone calls with best friends. My holiday house. The stillness of the ocean and the bush. The buzz of cities. Paulo Coehlo. Poetry. Super 8 films. Sipping Jetstreams. Cards for no occasion. Black and white photography. Fate. Beetroot. Midori and pineapple juice. Vita-Weets. Tea. Bonfires. Laying under a blanket of stars. Knowing that anything is possible. The uncertainty of what the future holds. My family. White space. Storms. Ebay. Gut-trusting. Salty skin. Flexibility. Freedom. Empathy. Lists!
December 13th, 2012 at 10:43 am
This is an amazing list and I felt rather inspired to write my own list after reading yours. Writing out all the things I loved so early in the morning left me feeling powerful, grateful and energized. Thanks so much for this!
December 13th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Oh how i totally heart this post… I especially love Unapologetic exclamation mark use (see! and!!) Familiarity – call me Rach, please. Gold and silver sequins. Mornings. Rustic outdoor tables decorated with candles, wine, wildflowers and conversation. People – people with stories and big dreams. Deeply etched lines on the face of a human who has lived.
here are some of my favourites
Watering my window box of lavender. Avocado with fresh coriander on rye toast. Winter coats, black jackets and red shoes. Making lists, humble people and really old horses that are only nice to you half of the time. Searching vintage shops for old chests, antiques and really cool clothes. Making a blue cheese wood fired pizza in my outdoor kitchen. The mystery of Italy, French women and Chanel. Witnessing random acts of kindness and giving somebody a second chance. The snow, wood-fired fireplaces and a full-bodied glass of red. Summer, sunshine, flowers and the ocean.
Thanks Rach
Claire xx
December 17th, 2012 at 8:05 am
These are absolutely beautiful and have warmed the cockles of my heart like you WOULD NOT believe. Thank you, thank you, thank you xx