100 Things

Ya know how sometimes rather than continuing to repair/bandage/fix something it's just easier to tear it all apart and start over? I feel like that's been my life this year. For some reason I needed to be torn apart and rebuilt to reach the place I am now. This has been the most turbulent, worst, best, most exhilarating, most emotionally random, anxiety-filled, frustration-stuffed, stress-packed, self-discovery-ridden year of my life.

In the last 12 months so much has happened. I've moved 4 times, bought a house, had at least 4 different jobs, traveled the world, met new people, gotten in touch with old acquaintances, made friends, lost friends, lost myself, found myself, laughed til I cried, cried til I laughed, had life-changing experiences of every shape and variety, made money, spent money, found new gray hairs, lost brown hairs, noticed new wrinkles, and experienced highs and lows of all kinds. After all is said and done I think I've come out on top. I feel like I'm a better person at the end of the year. At least I hope I am. My convictions are firmer, my faith is stronger, and I feel like I'm at a better place. I'm exorbitantly happy and wouldn't change a thing about my life.

I think it's interesting that as the years pass we tend to forget the negative experiences and remember the positive. And even if we don't totally forget, we can usually smile because of the tough times. I can almost laugh about the birthday party that no one came to. I chuckle on the inside when I think of the drama that was my life in high school - and the drama that, for some reason, has continued to pervade my life since then. I smile about people, places, things that at the time caused me no end of anxiety.

On that note, I'd like to end this year by focusing on some of the more positive, and maybe for some, trivial things that have made me laugh til my sides hurt, beam with joy, or at the very least smile to myself - some of which have been stolen from an earlier list I made during a downer.

100 things that make me happy:

-Being tackled by children
-Being on stage
-Eating brownies right out of the pan
-Talking about everything and nothing with friends
-New sweaters
-Peppermint Hot Chocolate
-Sharing secrets
-Cuddling
-Finishing a good book
-Enjoying the simple pleasures of small-town life
-At-home dance parties
-One-man dance parties
-IKEA
-Giving Hugs
-Getting Hugs
-Singing in the shower at the top of my lungs
-Old people and their quirky clothing
-Cheesecake
-Getting upgraded to first class unexpectedly
-Sincere compliments
-Making people wonder
-Football games with the fam
-Free dinners
-Checking out the serving staff at the local Olive Garden
-Going for long walks
-Playing the "How much is it?" game at the Gateway
-Shopping in Park City
-Expressions of love from unexpected places
-New friends
-Old friends
-Finding random reasons to celebrate
-Helping out a friend in need
-Having a friend when I'm in need
-Knowing that every once in a great while someone does, in fact, find me attractive
-Wigs
-People watching
-Finding an exceptional bargain
-Retail therapy
-Kisses - chocolate and otherwise
-Musicals
-Singing showtunes on roadtrips
-Roadtrips
-Tap dancing anywhere and everywhere
-Making people laugh
-Flirting
-The unexpected
-My ipod skin
-The sound of laughter
-When someone's face lights up because they're happy to see me (granted this usually only happens with 2nd graders, but that doesn't make it any less awesome.)
-Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket
-Hairspray (the musical/movie, not the carcinogenic substance responsible for big hair.)
-Baking
-When I find random things for sale
-Institute
-The fact that my family/friends and especially my parents support me in pretty much whatever I want to do. I realize more and more what a rare blessing that is and I'm really thankful for it.
-Making a fool of myself in public, especially if others are involved in the tomfoolery.
-"Save the Hoo-Ha's!"
-Saving an unsuspecting victim from a fashion no-no
-Mullets
-Fresh air
-Emotional spouses, fake significant others, and the like
-A great-fitting pair of jeans
-H&M
-All things Disney
-Food made from scratch
-Reconciliations
-Neon orange safety vests
-Finally discovering something for myself, about myself, that everyone else has been telling me all along
-Eggnog
-Nicknames
-Sugar in all forms
-Being busy
-Catching up with old friends
-Being Mr. B
-Pirates (the people, not necessarily the movies)
-Excellently flavored chapstick
-Watching the snow fall
-Finding out when other people have been saying nice things about me
-Those rare occasions when I look hot
-Extravagant lighting
-Having a place of my own to come home to
-My brothers
-My sister
-Fun dishes
-Mutual attraction
-Slides (The playground kind; not those normally associated with vacational nostalgia.)
-Music
-Third party compliments
-Ugly sweaters
-Sugar highs
-Weird gifts
-Harmony
-Sticky notes
-New CD's
-Pandora.com
-Paper snowflakes
-Pictures from my life
-My nephews
-New shoes
-Holidays

The list could go on, but I think 100 things is a good starting place. Feel free to add your own, and here's to a smile-filled new year!