The List

I recently read about an exercise for "inspiration." It's fun, could be a game if you're the game type (I'm not necessarily when it comes to exercises, aka "assignments to improve yourself"). You make a list of 100 things you love. It's supposed to be something that's good for the psyche, good for your mental happiness, I guess. I found it in a book about right and left brain "work outs," and though I'm very comfortable with all the exercises for the left brain, I had to force feed myself the right brain ideas. But this one I could do. And the book was right, I admit--it was fun. So, I offer it as a "suggestion," as my grandmother would say (she would not mean it as a choice but as an imperative) for the ending of a year and beginning of a new chapter. Here is my list so far:

The List

1.          Coffee

2.          Babies’ feet

3.          Black eyed peas

4.          Ponds cold cream

5.          Powder

6.          Perfume

7.          Rain

8.          Puddles

9.          Crunchy leaves

10.        Acorns

11.        Tchaikovsky

12.        Sequins

13.        Leather

14.        Ballet shoes

15.        Blue ribbon

16.        Grosgrain ribbon

17.        Headbands

18.        Pearls

19.        Ruffles

20.        Lace

21.        Small waists

22.       Small wrists

23.       Meg Ryan

24.       Bookshops

25.       Librarians

26.       Roasted marshmallows

27.       Old friends

28.       Praying

29.       Bookmarks

30.       Popcorn

31.       Dogwood trees

32.       Easter

33.       Incense

34.       Magnolia blossoms

35.       Sidewalks

36.       Our Lady

37.       Rosaries

38.       Surprise parties

39.       The Nutcracker

40.       Fireplaces

41.       Dark wood

42.       Heavy blankets

43.       Argyle

44.       Ireland

45.       Pencil skirts

46.       Fake eyelashes

47.       Sugar

48.       “Punkin”

49.       Big Red chewing tobacco

50.       Nightgowns

51.       Fireflies

52.       Dandelions

53.       Indian paint brushes

54.       Names of nail polish

55.       Lipstick

56.       Gummy bears

57.       Books

58.       Football

59.       Chips and queso

60.       A good run

61.       A library carol

62.       The seam in ballet tights

63.       Giraffes

64.       Smell and stick of rosin

65.       Cheese grits

66.       Buttons

67.       Crayons

68.       Poinsettias

69.       Lists

70.       Mousse (the hair product)

71.       Bobby pins

72.       Pink spongy rollers

73.       Saying “good morning”

74.       Velvet

75.       Holding hands

76.       Peppermints

77.       Tiaras

78.       Lagniappe