It's been a pretty rough week. Even as I type this I can feel my resolve begin to weaken and my negativity is kinda hanging over my shoulder, ready to pounce and consume at any given second. I think it's important I make my next "Favorites" post about happy thoughts. These are a few thoughts I concentrate on when I need to fly out of my funk and/or be coated in pixie dust ;)
1. Sunrises. I leave for work at about 5:45AM, so naturally I'm exhausted and sometimes dreading the long day ahead of me. Beautiful sunrises almost seem to welcome me to the world and give me something to look forward to. After all, if I didn't get up and out at 5:45 in the morning, I would likely miss a sight like this.
2. Bare feet on clean sheets. There's nothing better than sliding your toes into a soft, cool bed.
3. Good dads. Just check out this handsome man with one of our precious angels. He may have read this book 17 times already, but you wouldn't know it. He would (and most likely will) read it 17 more times.
4. Nightlights. I am a clumsy person and insanely near-sighted, especially at night. Night lights are beautiful, make me feel cozy, and keep me from falling over.
5. Remnants of my child's amazing day. A wet bathing suit, pile of toys, handprints on the wall, crayons under a couch cushion, a bike in the driveway....they are like breadcrumbs leading me into my baby's world. It's incredible to think I often overlook these things and treat them as annoyances. These are the things that made my kids smile today. Chill out and enjoy, Mama.
6. These curtains. I know it's wrong to love an object, or in this case, a fabric. But c'mon. These curtains are incredible. And the way the light comes through at all hours of the day? Gotta take my word for it...instant relaxation. These hang in my bedroom and filter my weekend sunrise with unmatched beauty.
7. Gearing up for a workout. Now I'm going to be honest, I normally don't love hauling crap around and taking 10 minutes to get ready for a workout (water-UGH! Heart-rate monitor-UGH! Sports attire-UGH! Phone with earbuds-UGH). But then I stop and think...I mean
really think about it. I have both my legs. I can run, jump, do push-ups (kinda). These are blessings....blessings some people don't have. And so a happy thought is born - gearing up for a workout
because I can.
8. Uhhhhh, low gas bills. I don't care how much I'll pay in the winter because right now it's July and my gas bill is $30. Opening this bill was like opening a present at Christmastime.
9. Decorating for the holidays. For me, decorating has always been a source of joy and fun. I love coming home to a festive house. It warms my heart and makes me feel like I'm in my own secret little cottage, out in the woods, where everything smells and tastes like the season. Ahhhh :)
10. Tea. I never liked tea growing up. This is a new happy thought. Tea makes me feel good and calms me down. The idea of tea is way better than the actual taste in some cases, but heck. This is Favorites: Happy Thoughts, not
Favorite Foods.
11. My kids in my bed. I don't love it all the time, but on a Saturday or Sunday morning, nothing is better than having my loves all snuggled close. Sometimes we'll lay there and talk about our dreams from the night before, sometimes we'll play, sometimes we even doze a little. I don't do it often enough now that the little one is mobile, but it still is one of my favorite happy thoughts.
12. Magazine Jen Time. I am obsessed with magazines. I love the feel of the pages, the smell of the paper, the way I can tear it out and keep it in my "Magazine Madness" binder. Yes, curling up with Pinterest can be fun, too....but there's something about books and magazines that will never go out of style.
13. Post Workout Jen. I'm making my *damn girl* face here but really, I love that moment right after you complete a kickin' workout. I feel so strong, so glowy, so rich, and so (literally) hot. This gem of a shot was taken today. You're welcome.
Ahhh. I feel better already. Thinking my happy thoughts breaks the bad mood and pushes my negativity even farther into the shadows. What do you do to kick negativity?
