As the end of the semester approaches, I crave anything that will take away the stress in my life. To procrastinate from doing important things—writing papers, studying for finals, packing up my dorm room, and trying not to pull my hair out—making lists always make things a little easier. Here is a look at the inside of my brain—a list of ten things that make me happy.
1. Making playlists
This also goes with liking to make lists since a playlist is basically just a list of songs put together to tell a story. But my favorite part about making a playlist is finding new music to add to it and setting the perfect mood. Some of my favorite playlists include: Rainy Days, Driving With the Hypothetical Top Down, GNO, and Quick Pick-Me-Ups.
2. My mother's beach hair
This one reminds me a lot of summer and gives me something to look forward to as I push through finals week. Her blonde hair and sun-kissed skin mixed with her wavy beach hair makes her look more of a goddess than she already does.
3. Praying
Whether it be in a church, in my dorm room, or even just in the dining hall, praying helps me gain control over my thoughts. Asking for guidance and strength to get through any obstacle can make me feel much more at ease.
4. Watching home videos
One of my all-time favorite home videos is of my little brother, who was an infant at the time, and my grandfather. They were playing with blocks on the ground in our den. My Poppy kept on knocking the blocks down over and over again, and for some reason my brother thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Hearing his full belly laugh never fails to makes me smile.
5. Caffeine-free Diet Coke
Different from regular Diet Coke, obviously. This makes me think of myself laid out on the beach in Block Island, Rhode Island, with my toes in the sand, holding an ice cold Diet Coke in one hand and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the other.
6. Feeling appreciated
As an artist, the hardest thing for me is putting myself and my art out there. The dance community often seems like a dog-eat-dog world, but when another artist genuinely appreciates you for your artistry, that is easily one of the best feelings in the world.
7. The excitement before a vacation
This one is one of my favorites. Personally, I can never sleep the night before going on a vacation. There is just too much excitement running through my head! Thinking about what the upcoming voyage might include can keep me up for hours.
8. Family dinners
Through the busyness of everyone’s daily lives, it is so nice to sit down and have a family dinner. Coming from a family of six, it is rare that all of us are in the same place at once. So, whether we are arguing or laughing uncontrollably, eating dinner with my dysfunctional family holds a special place in my heart.
9. Feeling someone's heartbeat
This is one of the best things in the world to me. When everything gets too crazy for me to handle alone, it is nice to be close enough to someone to feel his or her heartbeat. Even just feeling another person’s energy can help me feel grounded so that I know I am not alone in this crazy world.
10. Reaching my Fitbit goals
This item makes me feel more productive, even if I have yet to complete the homework I have been putting off. There is something very satisfying about beating one of your closest competitors in the Daily Showdown. All of my Fitbit (ab)using friends know this to be true.
So, during all of the finals week madness, I challenge you to put down the books and focus on your mental health for at least five minutes a day. What makes you happy?
