Our days have two faces - the beaming and the downcast. In between lies a space of neutrality.
Within that space, there are small things that make a big difference. These things are not what we call essential but they give meaning to the hours we consume while here.
I made a list of these things today.
Final day at Tung Thu Beach, Cat Ba Island, Vietnam
Mama's cooking
cozy socks
ginger tea
scented candle
morning yoga
sea shells
a student asking which word to use in her essay
my students teaching me a Vietnamese phrase
clicking 'Publish' after writing a blog post
the smell of my dog after bath
(her smell before bath is okay too)
old photographs from home
purple pens, fountain pens
cheap, yellow daisies from the market
oatmeal with honey
cycling between fields and mountains
Morning cycling in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
waking up to a plan-less Sunday
finding a quiet cafe in a noisy city
writing prompts
sharing podcasts, articles, and books to people who will enjoy them
thick jackets and blankets
finding the right book when it's needed
video calls with friends and family
having the right words to say
knowing when to be silent
Making this list is nice to do once in a while. What would you put on your list?
Read my open letter to 2023 here.
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