an appreciation post

We live in an age where dying is seen as an easier route than living.We live in an age where women would rather look at vile in the toilet than appreciate the curve of their own skin.We live in an age where mass shootings are the norm.We have cancer knocking on all of our doors.We feed off of technology, feeling more at ease with a cellular device clutched between our fingers, than the hand of another person.We do not acknowledge universal love. We do not encourage others.Our generation is lazy. Our generation is sad.But, our generation is also sick of being called lazy. And our generation is ready to start being happy.

This, is an appreciation post. 

Because it is far too easy to focus on the list above, and more often than not, we are blinded by the negative. We are blinded by all the cruel things in our lives that we feel physically incapable to lay our eyes upon the beauty. Our society in general is really bad for this, romanticizing this idea of depression, and lately I've noticed that I have been following this trend in my own life. Thus brings us to a different list. A happy, positive list of all the good things. Some might be specific to my own life, but I am hopeful that somewhere on this list is something that pulls a smile, a memory from your mind. Hopefully, this list can be bigger than the above list, not just in size, but in how much it truly effects us.

- People. They might be family, they might be teachers, employers, friends, or even strangers. There is surely one person out there that is a light into your life.

-Books. Having a bad day? Read a book. Having a good day? Read a book.

- Your favorite clothes. Literally what is better than your coziest sweater? Imagine it now, taking your bra off at the end of the night and putting on your favorite band tee. You have a dress that makes your legs look killer, wear it every single day.

- Waking up with the sun. 

- Sleeping in until noon.

- Your favorite snack. Chips, candy, carrots? Whatever it is, it's your favorite for a reason. And that reason is because it is delicious. 

- The first swim of the year. I live right by a lake, so this one is especially lovely for me. Not everyone is as lucky as I am in terms of location, so feel free to use your imagination with this.

- Movie marathons. It could be anything from Harry Potter to Star Wars to the ultimate John Hughes movie fest. Either way, some popcorn and hours of endless movie magic, yes please.

- Christmas decorations. 

- The cold side of the pillow. 

- Music. I don't care if it's top 40, rock n roll, or something I "probably haven't heard of before, they're like super underground"

- Long pointless drives. 

- Receiving letters in the mail.

- Sharpies. 

- A fresh cup of coffee. Or tea if you prefer. 

- Running. Fast, slow, down the block or for miles. 

- Baby animals.

- Also, babies.

- Education. 

- People watching. 

- Writing in the first page of your new journal.

- Your drunk Aunt at Thanksgiving dinner.

- Kissing.

- Holding hands for the first time.

- Getting drunk for the first time.

- Flowers.

- A fresh cut lawn.

- A long hot bath after a long cold day.

- Dancing. And I don't even care if your good.

- Taking pictures.

- Looking at old pictures.

- Watching someone fall in love.

- Falling in love with yourself.

- Family game night.

- Fresh fruit.

- Realizing you computer auto saved right before everything crashed.

- Coming into money unexpectedly.
- Being completely broke and content.

- Doing absolutely nothing all day.

- Crossing things off of your list.

- Being commended on a good job that you've done.

These are just a few things that I could think of at 10:30 at night. And already, I feel happier. There is so much in our lives that we have to be optimistic about. There are countless things that bring countless joy into our tiny lives. And that's the thing, our lives are so short and so insignificant, we have no other choice but to look for the good. I dare you to make your own list. And I genuinely hope that when you feel like you're having a bad day, you look at it. And even if for only a split second it brings joy to your face, you've won. :)