Hello my dear.
Not every day is a good day.
Not every moment is a good moment.
Sometimes, shitty things happen. Sometimes, we open our eyes to the day and for some reason, a gray film has been dropped down, turning the world a particular shade of melancholy; the world looks a degree or two off-kilter. It’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. You don’t need to pretend to be happy.
That being said, you do still ultimately WANT to be happy… happy, calm, and at peace with life. We all do. So, instead of forcing it, try to do something lovely, something just for you, something that will naturally give you that bit of sunshine, that slight lift at the edges of your mouth, a gentle softening around your eyes.
Today, I’m sharing my own list, the one I go to when I feel down or off balance. Take it as your own, cross off items that don’t ring true for you, and add your own little bits of loveliness.
- Water. Drink it. Go to it. Swim in it. Sit by it. Look at it. Listen to it. Water
- Have a candlelit yoga session in your bedroom at night
- Put on your fanciest lingerie—just for you! Really darling, this significantly adds to your life satisfaction meter
- Make yourself a green juice… or treat yourself to one out
- Alternately, treat yourself to a piece of decadent chocolate cake. Make sure to savor each bite, closing your eyes to truly experience the flavor
- Take out your prettiest journal and write down your ideal life (bonus points for coming up with a few actionable steps you can take to move towards it, or for taking a few minutes to close your eyes for visualization)
- Take a nap. It is not a waste of time. Truly
- Treat yourself to a manicure! Or just bust out your favorite color, put on a podcast/audiobook/music, and paint them yourself. This always makes me feel badass and intentional
- Buy flowers for your bedroom
- Turn the volume all the way up on an uplifting (or angry) song and dance your feelings out
- Let yourself cry if you need to. Feel everything
- Get out the door and go for a walk, preferably in a random, let’s-get-lost kind of direction
- Bake something for a friend or coworker and leave it for them with a positive note… without saying who it’s from
- Light a candle
- Do your dishes. A clean kitchen always clears my mind and makes me feel as though I have my life together
- Write your momma (or your dearest role model) a handwritten letter
- Make a gratitude list. Write out everything you can possibly think of to be grateful for
- Go to a coffee shop, get yourself a matcha latte (or mocha), daydream, and people watch
- Start re-reading your favorite book (I’ve found the best places to do this are on a deck in the sunshine or cuddled up on a comfy chair under a fuzzy blanket)
- Sign up for a class you’ve been holding out on (cycling? pottery? wine paint night?). Go for it!
- Call one of your favorite people and start planning a trip to take together. Look up the sights you’ll see, the hikes you’ll take, the restaurants you’ll visit, etc.!
- Get outside for some much-needed vitamin D
- Buy yourself a new plant, give it a cute name, and consider it part of your family
- Plan out your next week—schedule in some uninterrupted “you” time/creative time
- Journal out all of your feelings—all of them—no matter how seemingly crazy
- Go to a local park and just sit in nature
- Rearrange your furniture—new feng shui (if you are super nerdy like me, look up some actual feng shui tips and implement them into your newly reorganized space)
- Pick several items of clothing to donate
- Research fancy handwriting fonts and start modifying your own writing style/signature
- Ask someone who you trust for advice
- Get quiet and listen. What are your body and your heart telling you to do?
- Read poetry, words that feel true and beautiful in the core of you, words that make your skin tingle from their innate sense of rightness
- Plan how to check off an item on your bucket list. Take a baby step towards this goal
- Put on sparkly eyeshadow, hair glitter (my personal fav), or bold lipstick
- Pull out your favorite outfit, regardless of the occasion
- Re-watch your favorite childhood movie. Grab a soft blanket and a huge mug of hot cocoa
- Put on fuzzy socks
- Flip through cookbooks, find a new recipe, and cook yourself a healthy and delicious dinner. Use the good dishes
- Dig deep and forgive someone for a past transgression.
- Maybe this person is yourself
- Tell someone you love them.
- Maybe this person is also yourself
Ultimately, it all comes down to this: love yourself.
Love,
Lola
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