The other night I was feeling particularly stressed out after work and sat down to my computer to watch a Ted or two. I came across a talk by a man who apparently has the "best blog in the world". Hm...I'll be the judge of that. After listening to him talk for 20 minutes about his life story and his passion for blogging I had to check it out. And...after spending over and hour on http://1000awesomethings.com/, I came to realize everyone was absolutely right. Best blog in the world. It's about the simple things that make life great; the oddities of humanity, the tender mercies we experience every day, and the people that make it all worth it.
Now, I don't want to say I had the same idea a LONG time ago...but...I had the same idea a long time ago. I have been meaning, for some number of years now, to keep a record of all the tender mercies I experience throughout the day. Unfortunately, like so many other important-but-not-pertinent things in my life...it got pushed aside. So, I will just give you just a glimpse of some of the awesome things I have noticed just within the past few weeks.
1. When you remember you had cookies in the oven just at the peak of "done-ness".
I love to cook. Sure it takes time, and patience, and sometimes a little sweat, but there's nothing like taking the first bite of a delicious meal prepared by your own hand. And even better when you have someone to share it with. However, there is nothing more frustrating than turning your hard-labored food into ashes...just because you refuse to use a timer. So...when everything goes your way and the food comes out perfect, heave a sigh of relief and bite into some awesomeness.
(oh-so-delicious pumpkin cookies)
2. Waking up from a nap and your hair looks better than when you laid down.
3. Songs that don't make any sense.
Songs have a strange capability of bringing us to a place we thought was long forgotten. Their meaning seems to speak directly to our soul and put words to our deepest thoughts. However, what about the songs that don't make any sense at all? Like "Wildcat" by Ratatat. It doesn't make any sense. It holds no stark meaning, but is all about the here and now. And that is what makes it so awesome.
4. When your roommate unloads the dishwasher.
Nobody likes to do that.
5. Suddenly noticing everybody's veins.
It happens to all nurses at some point or another. It happened to me when I was standing in the line at the post office. The man in front of me had the most beautiful veins I had ever seen and as I starred, I couldn't help but think of how glorious it would be to start a 16 gauge IV catheter into his juicy river of flowing blood.
6. No-name bands.
40 fans (most heavily intoxicated and covered in tattoos and piercings), all jammed into a tiny, smokey room on the second level of a 100 year old home. Awesome? You bet. Because amidst all the chaos there are four incredibly talented musicians playing songs they spent months to write, to a group of young adults who paid absolutely nothing to come see them.
7. Boys
I know what you're thinking. But I'm talking about the boys who help you do things you would otherwise have to pay a bunch of money to get done. It might be a little steriotypical, but boys are just better at these kind of things. Things like yardwork, basic fix-ups around the house, and mechanics...lots and lots of mechanics. Oh, and pushing things.
8. Feeling obligated to go to something and dreading it…only to find out it has been cancelled!
9. Playing dress-up.
Yes, even big girls like to play dress-up. And you really can't help it after (somewhat) guiltlessly watching a whole season of American's Next Top Model in a weekend.
(How I wish I could share the amazing pics of my partner in crime and not be killed...now THAT would be awesome!)
