On a fairly regular basis I take advantage of the small pleasures in life that I enjoy. I know that everyone doesn't have the ability to buy a new pair of shoes on a whim. Oh, how I love to buy new shoes. The thrill of looking for the perfect set, the colors that pop out at you tempting you to "pick me!" "pick me!" Finding the exact pair that will complement that top that has felt so forgotten all of these years. And oh, the display shoes! I'm pretty sure that I have magical feet because I can slip on all of the display shoes and they fit my feet. I don't have to forage through the boxes looking for my size, it's always just...there.
Yes, the simple things in life. Shaken iced green tea from Starbucks (one pump sweetener and a hint of non fat milk), a smile from a stranger on the street, my green Nalgene bottle I couldn't live without, and most importantly, the strength and health I have. Be thankful for these things.
Other things to be thankful for: Chocolate and candy, pearl earrings, allergy pills, online television, swimming pools in your backyard...SPF, fabulous friends, a loving family and....ice cream.
Take this moment to glance back at the first and last things I wrote on that list. Chocolate and candy and ice cream. By the looks of my list you can tell that it is a hot summer in Nebraska. I mean really, allergy pills?! Yes, people! I have really bad allergies, ok? And it doesn't help that I try to spend all of my time outside running or swimming and if I'm not doing that I'm buying and arranging flowers. I take the blame, I'm definitely not helping my cause. Anyway, sorry about that tangent. Ok, candy and ice cream.
So over my lunch hour today I took a nice stroll downtown to grab a Starbucks iced tea and stop at the bank. As I was enjoying my jaunt checking out the scenery, watching all of the incoming freshman students tour campus and the downtown professionals eating their lunches outside I thought to myself how it really is the minor things in life you need to embrace and enjoy to make the journey worth it.
As I'm finishing up at the teller line and about ready to turn around and walk out, a little girl practically ran right smack into me. "Um, um...(she started to say to the teller) can I have the bowl? The big bowl, the really big one over there that has all of the candy in it? Please, please, please?" The teller looked so confused and surprised she stood motionless for a second staring at the tiny girl standing on her tip toes while resting her chin on the counter. This little girl knew what she wanted, where she could find it and who to ask for it. She was embracing the little things. The things that come for free and bring happiness to those around them. I walked away with a big grin on my face and laughter in my stomach picturing the anxiety and anxious need that little girl had for that dang candy.
Later on in the day, I was about to hit my 2:30 dead zone. I really feel like the American work environment needs to take a note from other cultures that embrace the afternoon siesta. Man, wouldn't that be great? I have been trying to cut down on the amount of coffee I consume (hence the addiction to green tea) in order to detoxify my body and clean out my system (I need to stop reading online articles, they are feeding me all of this liberal nonsense) but really miss that kick in the afternoon the caffeine supplied me. Today, it was a little thing in life that has gotten me through the afternoon. Ice Cream. Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream. Any flavor, any toppings, any time. On any given day, no matter the temperature (even in the dead of winter, ice cream can still warm the soul) there is a good chance you could find me at my favorite local ice creamery. My favorite kind of ice cream: Cornbread and honey. I will buy it by the gallon.
We have a marketing gig going on at work for the next month in which we are offering free ice cream to incoming students after their long orientation day. Bonus: staff gets to enjoy this ice cream as well. Remember, it's the little things in life. This is pretty much going to be the best thing every, except for my bikini-ready body.
Good thing I bought a cute onesie this year.
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