little things.

there are very few issues in life that deserve to be called "big." i'm not talking about mass. i'm talking about relevance. we give power to so many daily occurances that don't deserve to be powerful. we fuel our stressors with worry, anxiety, and hate. we personify that which is mundane until it is so intimidatingly large and scary that we forget what lies at the center of the beast.

earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear meltdowns are big.

the death of a sixteen year-old boy is big.

a nation in turmoil over a corrupt leader is big.

when i say 'we,' i mean 'me.' i make issues big that aren't necessarily so. and i caught myself doing it a lot yesterday. to snap myself out of it, i want to focus on the little things. the little things that i take for granted like a bad cliche on a daily basis.

slush in my diet coke. part of the beauty of living in michigan in the winter is that your garage can double as a refridgerator. there's nothing like grabbing a can of d.c. and watching little icebergs float to the top when you crack it open.

berol fontaine pink pens. when i helped my mom organize some of my grandma's belongings after she died, we stumbled upon a box of these vintage pens. they haven't been manufactured for years and they write like a dream. i think of my grandma everytime i use them.

perfectly burnt popcorn. yes, i like my popcorn a little singed. but there's a fine line: if it's too burnt, the bag is a loss. thirty extra seconds usually does the trick.

a really good hair day. it's hard to get me down when i feel like every strand is in the right place. i'm still getting used to this concept with my short bob. fyi, teenage boys do not like it when you cut your hair without a warning.

dainty necklaces. as much as i love a chunky statement piece, there's something about a dainty, barely there necklace that will get me everytime. they're feminine, charming, and make people lean in a little closer to admire the beauty.

sundays spent with family. sundays are my favorite day of the week. my brothers, SIL, dogs and i all flock to the mothership on standish street to relax, refuel, and lounge around with each other. it's the perfect end to the week that recharges me for the week ahead.

road trips. there's something about hitting the road with a destination hundreds or thousands of miles away that makes me a little giddy everytime i think about it. the possibility of adventure whizzes by as a friendly welcome sign greets you at the state line. if you ever need a travel companion, call me. i'm game. and i'll bring the corn nuts.

the cold side of the pillow on a hot summer night. you all know what i mean.

you have homework. think about what's eating away at you right now. is it life threatening, or does it simply piss you off? try putting it in perspective. i'm not one to judge, but i challenge you to try it because it just might help. try to focus on the little things that make you happy. take away some of the power from the 'big' things. just try it.

oh, and gerty likes the little things, too. like empty peanut butter jars. PB & G.