A Few of My Favorite Things

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things.

– “My Favorite Things”, Julie Andrews

When I watched “The Sound of Music” at age seven, I was immediately smitten with the storyline, and especially this song. This song can warm you from the inside out – a hot bowl of chicken soup on a rainy day (or in the movie’s case, a torrential thunderstorm). My mom and I both memorized the lyrics and we would have singing marathons together – ah, those were the days! Recently I have caught myself humming the tune and was struck with a sudden idea. I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite things.

So, without further ado, here we are:

• Vibrant red lipstick and retro sunglasses.
• Collecting seashells along the seashore.
• Arriving home to an immaculately clean house.
• Eating ripe, honey-sweet blackberries straight from the tree.
• The scent of old books.
• Drawing a bath and splashing around in the tub all the while pretending I am a mermaid.
• Being able to give someone a present they have always wanted.
• Beginner’s luck.
• Pizza, wings, fries, and superhero movie night.
• Laughing and joking with a group of close-knit friends.
• Impromptu trips to the zoo and aquarium.
• Haircuts that make me feel like a movie star about to make a grand entrance at the Academy Awards.
• Drawing something flawlessly on the first try.
• Being given flower bouquets and chocolates from loved ones for absolutely no reason.
• Ocean waves roaring and collapsing onto sandy shores.
• Musicals and theatrical performances.
• Jewel-colored butterflies fluttering among bright flowers.
• Somehow coming in at first place playing Mario Kart after having been stuck in twelfth the whole time.
• Grinding my own special spice mixes for chai.
• That moment after finishing something difficult successfully.
• Beautiful stationery that I use mainly for decorative purposes.
• Zen garden ponds filled with lotus and koi.
• Finding something I thought I had lost.
• Fresh toast smeared with butter and strawberry jam, served up with a delicious veggie omelette.
• Melodies of koels as they gently sing me awake at dawn.
• Discovering that something on my wish list has gone on sale.
• Old Disney VHS tapes.
• Eating spoonfuls of Nutella straight out of the jar.
• Jazz softly playing in the background of a classy restaurant.
• Taking dry laundry out of the dryer and inhaling the fragrance of warm, clean clothes.
• Tastefully decorated homes and gardens.
• Food carts scattered through the streets of busy cities, serving tasty food just when I am hungriest.
• Cats.
• My heart skipping a beat (or several) at the pinnacle of a roller coaster.
• Perfectly applied nail polish.
• Cotton candy and churros at a local carnival.
• Origami cranes made of ornate patterned paper.
• Sunshine-y days with a side of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.
• Reading the last page of a wonderful novel and breathing a simultaneously sad/happy sigh.
• Candlelight flickering on the table top, spreading floral aroma through the room.
• Spritzing a perfume that smells just right on my skin.
• Rereading old childhood classics and remembering why I fell in love with them in the first place.
• Having a good night’s rest after a day of working hard.
• Wearing high heels and feeling instantly empowered (like a fierce supermodel).
• Pastry shops.
• Cold, refreshing showers following intense, grueling workout sessions.
• Quiet moments to myself.
• Bundling up in scarves and mittens during the winter months.
• Listening to BTS.
• Watching the red squiggle disappear from underneath words as I add them to my laptop’s dictionary.
• Meeting someone who just clicks with me.

These are a few of my favorite things. What are yours? Let me know in the comments below!