I'm always one for self-evaluation and lists. Honestly, those are two of the things I'm best at. Recently, I noticed I was getting kinda bummed in non-specific ways, and life wasn't as AMAAAZING as I know it can be, so I looked around and noticed there were some things I could try differently. Pretty small things, but when you add them all up it's like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Nothing makes me feel more glamourous than just being plain happy. :)
1. Stop being a news-junkie. See also: anxiety-junkie. I used to watch "The Daily Show" all the time and listen to NPR in the morning and all the time in my car. Being informed meant being classy! But, I'm also cynical as fuck, and I would get super depressed listening to all the terrible things going on in the world and feeling hopeless thinking about how I could help. But honestly, I've felt so much lighter and happier ever since I've stopped tuning into global headlines all the time. Isn't that kind of terrible? It is, but I own it. I'm just too passionate of a person, and I can't half-ass my enthusiasm, so it's better for me to channel that into things that are happy. The Big Picture is great, and I love the Big Picture and My Fellow Man, but I realized absorbing all the terrible news crippled me from doing simple things that life is really about like watching TCM and spending quality goofing-off time with my step-kids.
Note: I mean, I still want to be generally informed, so I subscribed to
theSkimm, and it's really great!
2. Eat what I want when I want it. I love food, and I love healthful food. I wouldn't call myself vegan, but I eat mostly vegan (my family calls me a "Kylie-vore," which is adorable and accurate), so my indulgences are things like dates and peaches and fresh cucumber in my water. Basically, I like to feed myself like I'm at a classy spa or cafe. Fresh salads, cantaloupe, little cubes of cheese with cherry tomatoes... these things make me really happy, and I really amuse myself snacking all the time because the combinations are as delightful as they are endless. ("Ooh, for this snack, I'll have honey-coated pecans and a small fruit smoothie! Now I'll have some roasted sweet potatoes and some avocado toast!") I used to feel like a failure if I wasn't planning/executing/eating 3-course meals that my boyfriend loved as well. But fuck, I'm so emotionally exhausted all the time that I need food that I can throw together and be happy to eat whenever. 3-course meals can be for eating out, and my boyfriend is a grown-ass man who can feed himself. I'm taking care of me.
3. Embrace change. If you can't tell from "enjoys self-evaluation and lists," I really love routines! Routines are wonderful, but they can also be crazy mental traps that make you really narrow-minded. Change is the ultimate spice of life, and I've stopped feeling like a lost 5-year-old when something new happens. ("What does it mean!? Who am I?! Have my core values changed?!" Really.) I used to love a glass of wine or whiskey after work, but I'm not really feeling that any more. I used to not want to shave my legs every day, but now it has to happen. Sometimes my boyfriend and I talk all the time, and sometimes we don't. I had my hair super long for 10 years, and I just cut it all off because I really wanted to! Whatever it is, going with the flow and not categorizing long-term repercussions to every little thing has made me much more confident and joyful.
4. Not being so offended all the time. This is super embarrassing, but I really would get offended if my friends/family didn't respond to a little text or if my boyfriend would say something weird. Not like a spoiled Beverly Hills teenager, but more of a manic ball of nerves who would over-analyze everything. EW. Once I made the conscious choice to let little things go, I notice I actually communicate more with the people I love. All of our hearts are in the right place, we all share the same values, and we're certainly not out to belittle one another, so what's the point in zeroing in on a little comment or criticism? My down-time is really valuable, and I'm not going to spend it feeling bad for myself. I'm too awesome for that, and I'd rather spend time being awesome.
5. Watch a lot of "Parks and Recreation." All the time. When I'm getting ready in the morning and before I go to bed. I'm watching it right now as I type this! I just makes me happy so, whatevahhh!
I feel like this is worth repeating: being happy is glamourous. Feeling bummed and gross is necessary sometimes because it can force you to change something for the better. Right now I'm in a tangible Up-Swing, and I just want to ride it as lonnng as possible. :)
