Since it the Tuesday back after a holiday weekend, I am trying to continue to embrace that cozy, calm 'long weekend' feeling by doing some self-reflection writing today. And I am sharing it here in hopes that you will join in.
Today's Inspiration: I recently stumbled upon a video by Kyle Cease, re-posted by my friend Sophie. It is called: "Why People's Opinions of You Are Not Real."
While watching, there was one particular quote that stood out to me: "You are what you love and not what loves you."
So today, I sat down to reflect on what I love...
Why This Post: The Culture of Validation. In our virtual world of "liking" "heart-ing" "retweeting" and showing our online support of each other, we can get swept up in caring too much about how people respond to us. Who loves us. Who doesn't.
From Instagram hearts, to retweets, Facebook likes and 'thumbs up' notifications on YouTube, the positive praise from the virtual world can get pretty addictive - especially for young people (teens, college students and young professionals) looking for self esteem building, attention and validation in such fresh, unfolding stages of their lives.
And a little online love can certainly be a positive thing - a way of sending love, saying hello and showing support.
But it can also turn toxic. Negative feedback, bullying, mean comments and stereotyping, being the worst of it.
But also toxic to your self esteem and self worth: the feeling of getting swept up in other people's lives and comparing yourself to them. Comparing your successes to their successes. Your path to theirs. If we live in a world of comparisons, we will never be enough. We will always want more for ourselves. But maybe we are enough, right now. Maybe we have so much love and light in our lives right now that we should only feel grateful, happy, confidant and proud.
Right now in this moment, you love SO MUCH. Really, just think about it. Make a list, like I did. Look how beautiful your world is. And how beautiful and awesome you are for loving this random collection of things -- the things that make you, YOU. These things that inspire you, light you up with passion and make you feel all warm and cozy inside.
These loves are unique to you. Like a fingerprint from your heart.
You are what you love. And not what loves you.
And ps. I started this list with the hopes of writing at least 50 things, thinking I could never make it to 100. But it was easier than I thought to keep listing and loving. And I could easily continue on for another 101 things.
I tried not to get too perfectionistic about this, worrying about how 'cool' or 'moving' this list would be. Instead I just kept writing. The random things that popped into my head. As basic or quirky as they may sound. So if you try this for yourself, do the same. Just write, without self judgement or editing.
101 Things I Love - Kathy's list
- My husband.
- My cats.
- My friends.
- My family, near and far.
- Rainy days.
- Smoothies.
- Warm towels.
- Twinkly lights.
- Weekend brunch. Waffles, pancakes, fruit, oatmeal, lattes. Good company.
- Waking up early to see a pink sunrise.
- Watching my cats sleep or roll around in sunbeams.
- Dancing in my living room. Bonus points for Britney Spears music.
- Getting home from a fancy party or event and putting on comfy, snugly clothes.
- Beach air, the sound of crashing waves and a view of beautiful blue-green water.
- The movie Titanic.
- Avocado Toast.
- Childhood photos. The kind you have to scan or snap to get online.
- California. NYC. Paris. Miami. Maui. Switzerland. Italy.
- Seeing the word vegan on a menu.
- Bringing freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies to friends, family or to events. And watching people smile and get excited about them.
- Thick foam on a vegan latte. Bonus points for latte art.
- My niece's long and loud giggle.
- When my nephew asks me a question about something I know the answer to.
- When my nephew asks me a question I do not know the answer to.
- Watching shelter, wild or farm animals who are happy and loved. Or rescued.
- Leisure travel.
- Dishes and clothes from Anthropologie.
- Vintage episodes of Family Ties, Saved by the Bell, Full House or 90210.
- Art galleries. Paintings. Being inspired and moved by art.
- Broadway musicals.
- Singing loudly in my car and thinking I sound amazing. example: Let it Go, Elsa has nothing on me.
- Disneyland. Anything Disney. Rides. Happy people. DOLE Whip. The Castle.
- Walking in New York City. No destination needed.
- When my friends or readers leave me sweet comments on my blog. Or other places online.
- Saying "my cookbooks." And remembering I am an author.
- Farmer's Markets.
- Fruit. Fruit salads, whole fruit and fruit smoothies. My fruit monster status.
- Chocolate. Hot cocoa.
- Listening to "Carol of the bells" + baking sugar cookies during Christmas time. Pumpkin-anything in fall. Watching Hocus Pocus in October.
- Sitting down to a delicious looking dinner that I made myself.
- Long holiday weekends.
- Watching tennis. Playing tennis. Going to tennis matches like the US Open.
- Taking photos when there is beautiful light. And beautiful scenes.
- Getting together with a big group of girlfriends and talking about life, rather than work.
- Hiking. Fresh air. Moving my muscles outdoors.
- Enjoying my lunchtime smoothie, paired with a big sunbeam in my face, cozy kittens by my side.
- Whole Foods. And making it out of there spending less than $100.
- When my husband gets home after a long work day.
- Any movie with Tom Hanks, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer or Johnny Depp.
- Watching movies in Los Angeles, when people clap and cheer at the opening and closing credits - and sometimes give standing ovations. Also: fellow movie lovers. And popcorn.
- The sound of crickets humming. The sight of fireflies. Warm summer nights and after dinner strolls.
- Ballerinas. And pretending I am one. (See #12)
- Laughing so hard that tears come out my eyes -- even better, laughing when you cannot stop and just have to keep giggling until it passes.
- Crying from a fictional movie or TV show. Ex: Grey's Anatomy at their peak.
- Comfort food. Vegan Mac and Cheese. Mashed Potatoes. Veggie Burgers. Banana Split.
- Puffy white clouds in a blue sky.
- Sunflowers.
- The color aqua.
- Skirts that twirl or flow, and shoes that sparkle.
60. Tropical drinks with tiny paper umbrellas, when on vacation.
61. Really good guacamole with steamy, warm, handmade corn tortillas.
62. The Twilight movies. And books. Yes, really.
63. Anything that reminds me of pop culture from the 90's.
64. Books + audiobooks for long plane rides. Example: Yes, Please.
65. Embracing technology and learning how to weave it into my life in a positive way.
66. Wearing my hair in a high bun all day. Aka, fuss free hair. Also: no makeup days.
67. Birthday Cake.
68. Looking at old photos of my parents from when they were "my age." Whatever that may be at the time.
69. Champagne.
70. Peanut butter and apricot jam sandwiches on toasted bread.
71. The moon roof in my car.
72. My bed. Fluffy comforter and pillows, soft buttery sheets, my Essentia mattress.
73. Giant salads.
74. Making lists. Hi.
75. Bubble baths with salt and essential oils.
76. Spa days. Massages, steam rooms, saunas, facials, fluffy robes.
77. Driving "up the coast" through Malibu. Aqua water out my window.
78. Sailboats.
79. Memories of playing in my backyard with my sister, fruit trees, sunshine and dress up.
80. Yoga and workout videos in my living room.
81. Driving on freeways with no traffic.
82. Encouraging people to follow their dreams, not matter how crazy or 'outside the box' they may sound. Helping people start a business, website or start a blog.
83. Kitchen stores and prop shopping for food photography.
84. Hearing good news from my friends and family.
85. Matcha.
86. Plopping down on the couch after cleaning the house.
87. Smiling at the sight of birds, butterflies and other 'urban wildlife' creatures.
88. Living in cities with seasons. Cozy winter days, brisk fall weather, spring sunshine, warm summer nights.
89. Living in cities without seasons. Flip flops in December, refreshing summer breezes, one wardrobe year round, smoothies in November.
90. Being happy and realizing it then and now. Being present in the moment.
91. Setting a spider or fly free outside rather than smashing it in fright or without stopping to think of other options.
92. Knowing I have friends who "get" me. And I get them. And we are support systems for each other no matter what.
93. Good TV. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Parks & Rec and more. Also, Netflix.
94. Vegan restaurants that make me proud to be vegan. Real Food Daily, Native Foods, Veggie Grill and more.
95. When someone says I helped them go vegan.
96. Frozen Banana Blender Ice Cream. And ice cream smoothie bowls.
97. My Vitamix.
98. Meeting or chatting with my heroes.
99. Animal organizations that rescue animals or fight for their rights.
100. Being a blogger and sharing with my readers. Writing. Knowing I can always jump into my imagination and put something creative down on paper.
101. YOU! thank you for being here!!!
Please share YOUR amazing "loves" in the comments. Even one or two of them. The first things that pop into your head! I would love to see them, no pun intended.. 😉
photos: All photos by Sabrina Hill
Mazar Omab says
good article
Chokobo says
Thanks for this post. I've found it very inspiring this morning.
Here's my list of things I love 🙂
1. My husband and how he plays the guitar
2. My parents
3. My godchildren
4. My best friend
5. Coffee and herb tea
6. Early summer mornings and late summer evenings
7. Swimming and yoga
8. Long strolls
9. Travelling
10. Stadt Cafe in Fussen
11. Italy and its art
12. Ice-cream in Rome
13. Books
14. Reading in a cafe when it's raining outside
15. Bright umbrellas
16. Forests
17. Poetry
18. Learning new things
19. Learning languages
20. Playing computer games with my husband
21. Cooking weekend dinners together with my hasband
22. Sniffing my husband's shirts before putting them into the washing machine
23. Fresh fruit in the summer and oranges and persimmons in the winter
24. Hugs
25. My students
26. Small handbags
27. Picking mushrooms
28. My tortoise
29. Clouds
30. Mountains
31. Empty beaches
32. Walking along the edge of the water
33. Dogs (and my future dog of Shiba-Inu breed, I don't know her yet but I already love her)
34. Baking
35. Looking for Christmas and New Year presents
36. When my orchids blossom
37. Beautiful photographs
38. Drawing
39. Buying pencils and paper
40. Sending postcards
41. Music
42. Old coins
43. Book shops
44. Trains
45. Vinyl records
46. Hourglasses
47. Guacamole rye toasts and bruskettas
48. Big soft scarves in the winter and silk ones in the spring
49. Warm bathes
50. Aromatic oils for the skin
51. Massage
52. Listening to audiobooks in my MP3 player on my way to work
53. Stones with little holes
54. Beautiful and comfortable underwear (my absolute favorite is ERES)
55. My home library (it's small - hardly a hundred of books, but it's growing steadily and i hope one day it will have a special cabinet too)
56. Short bright nails
57. Knitting and crochetting
58. Berries and berry smoosies
59. Summer dresses and winter fine merino wool sweaters
60. Unplanned and unexpected shopping which results in great findings
61. Porcelain cups
62. How thermal water feels on my skin
63. Pomellato rings which my husband gave me for two of my birthdays (I doubt I will ever be able to want to wear anything else)
64. Woolen socks and bright woolen mittens
65. Croissants for breakfast
66. Woody Allen movies
67. Tim Burton cartoons
68. Hayao Miyazaki anime
69. Oberlaa cafe in Vienna
70. Doing things that make me feel like a better person
71. Moleskin notebooks
72. Choosing the next place to travel to
73. Swinging on the swings
74. "Running away" in the middle of the day and having a dessert in a cafe with a cup of coffe, reading a couple of pages from a book - feels like a holiday
75. Achieving goals I've set
76. Chatting in "our invented" language to my husband when nobody else around understands what nonsense we are talking about
77. Buying books abroad while travelling and bringing them home
78. How legs buzz after 10-15 kilometers walk
79. Quietness of winter woods
80. Sunlight spots
81. How fresh bred smells
82. Rainbows
83. Where I am now
84. Walking home through the park after training in the swimming pool
85. Inspiring people
86. The last day of an academic year
87. When people can't guess my age
88. Breaking my own records
89. New leaves and leaf buds
90. Shoes that are beautiful but so comfortable that would allow me to walk alll day long without getting tired.
91. Looking for and trying new recipes.
92. When my friends shovel down cupcakes I've made.
93. Weekend morning.
94. Searching for inspiring images on the Internet.
95. Purple colour and khaki with pink together.
96. Clothes madde of natural materials.
97. Avene Body Lotion with Cold Cream and Kenzo Bare Body Cream
98. Holidays and days off.
99. Blossomimg fruit trees in the spring.
100. Every day.
Getting Close to says
Thanks for sharing your list and reminding us about the millions of reasons we have to be happy no matter what else is going on. I'm a travel blogger so I often think of travel moments as when I'm happiest, but it is good to remember that little things at home and even a day without seeing anything "new and exciting" is something to appreciate too.
Kathy Patalsky says
That is such a great point! I think it is such a wonderful thing to be traveling to gorgeous, exciting places and miss home. Missing home reminds me I am doing something right with my life 🙂
Alison says
1. My Dogs
2. Hiking Coastal Trails
3. Warming up in bed by turning the hairdryer on under the sheets. (Yes, seriously)
4. Waking up to a still lake in the wilderness.
5. Picking (and then eating) Blueberries, Partridgeberries and Chantrelles
6. Coffee on the weekends.
7. Coffee on weekdays.
8. Savasana
9. Sweet Potatoes....And perfectly ripe avocados
10. Listening to my favourite radio program (CBC's the Signal) while washing dishes
Kathy Patalsky says
Love this list! Thank you for sharing <3
Megan Johnson says
This blog was great! A little uplifting passage for my Tuesday after noon. Thanks! 🙂 on to my own list!
Kathy Patalsky says
So glad you liked it Megan! <3
Julia Ralston says
Life has been busy, crazy,exhausting, for me the past 4 weeks, so this post is a wonderful moment to take time and stop, reflect. Thank you, Kathy. What do I love, my husband, my babies, ( fur babies, current and the ones that have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge), rain, Germany, Dr. Who, ( I'm not a big geek, but I LOVE Dr. Who - season 9 this weekend!), movies that make you feel and think, Pavarotti, The Cranberries - Irish band, big in the 90's, and truly I mean this, your blog. You are one of the first vegan blogs I found, and you helped me so much on my journey to becoming vegan and a new way of cooking and looking at food in a brand new light. Love your cookbook, haven't gone thru all the recipes, yet, but everything thus far has been fantastic!
Kathy Patalsky says
This makes me so happy to hear Julia! And thank you for loving my cookbook and following my blog! Your 'loves' sound awesome! xo
Angie says
Beautiful post! I love the authenticity and energy.
Emily K. says
such a great post! LOVE IT! I would really love to read more posts about your daily life. It would be so cool to see more of this kind of thing 😀
Kathy Patalsky says
thank you Emily! I am so glad you like these types of posts. I would love to do more of them, positive feedback really helps motivate me!
Emily K. says
happy to help 😀
Neyonta says
This is lovely 🙂 Now I feel inspired to write my own list
Kathy Patalsky says
yay! That is great.
Kelly says
Such a great positive and inspiring post. Thanks for sharing! It's nice to think about how many things you love and how much love you have to give. 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
So glad you liked it Kelly!
Robin says
Thank you Kathy. I was so down because of a work thing. Your list made me cry-- a good cry-- thinking of all of the wonderful people and things in my life.
Kathy Patalsky says
That is so sweet of you Robin. I am so so glad this post spoke to you xoxo
Trinity Bourne says
That's AWESOME Kathy! What an amazing inspiration... how cool 101!
Kathy Patalsky says
thank you Trinity! <3
Cindy McNamara says
Inspired! Now I know what needs to go up on my new chalkboard wall in the kitchen....an "I Love...." list for the man and I to fill in any time we think of a new one. 🙂 Thank you for the nudge....Have a great week Kathy!
Kathy Patalsky says
haha YES love that Cindy! Now I need a chalkboard!! 🙂
Giulia Lombardo says
Amazing list!!!:D
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you Giulia!
Elaine DeBitetto says
OMG! I LOVED THIS!!!
Kathy Patalsky says
so glad!
sj1384 says
This. Is. Amazing. I love to do this and see just how much positivity surrounds me. The ocean. The sun on my face. Seeing "vegan" anything on a menu. Cold weather and coffee. Books: the smell of them, the feel of them the contents of them. Hot stone massages. Well organized offices (especially mine). The laughter of children. An old couple walking holding hands. Baking bread and sharing it with others. I could go on...LOL Thanks for this post. So very important to remember who we are.
Kathy Patalsky says
aw I love these! Thank you for sharing them!
Mary Ellen | VNutrition says
This is a great list! Some of my loves are my husband, pups, travel, vegan mac & cheese, and anything sparkly. I need to do a full list to keep me feeling positive and grateful. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kathy Patalsky says
thank you! Love your loves! Thank you for sharing them.
Lisa Drilling says
Kathy- you are awesome. I love you and everything you bring to the world. You make me smile and fill my tummy with goodness. Blessings~ Lisa Drilling
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you so much! That is so incredibly sweet of you to say Lisa.
Heather McClees says
I LOVE this. And this is why WE LOVE YOU! I have a notebook that I started at age 15 listing all my favorite things. I've added things to the list since then and it's well up to 1,000 by now! I attest that the list helped me start my life with more gratitude, self-compassion, appreciation for others and the world around me. This is great you're spreading this message!!
WE HAVE SO MUCH in common according to our lists, haha! Some of my favorites: my dogs, no make-up days, a clean house, superfoods, anything green!, my 2 Vitamix blenders, freshly ground coffee, smoothies, nature, photos of my family, NYC, exploring, yoga, daily walks, writing, reading, photography, vegan anything, positive quotes, Taylor Swift, Twilight books and movies (me too!), old journals, fresh notebooks with empty pages, magic markers, Whole Foods, Barnes and Noble, first cup of coffee for the day, tea, shopping with Mom, photos of my dad, talking to my brother, fall produce, the first visit to the pumpkin patch, animal videos on YouTube, the VegNews magazine, and of course, HHL are all some of my top favorites:)
Kathy Patalsky says
yay thanks miss Heather. I am so glad you shared your beautiful loves too! I LOVE them. xoxo
Kathy Rogers says
Such a great list! I love my two kitties, Beau and Happy Boy! This time of year I love pumpkin fields and watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"!
Kathy Patalsky says
thank you! I love that you put Charlie Brown on here, it is so wonderful how these simple movies or TV shows, built into our memories, have such happiness-inducing effects on us!
Shanna says
This was great! When I got to 74. Making Lists, I cracked up cause I know from reading your blog that that is soo you! and I love making lists too so that was funny. I really liked this post. very thoughtful. 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Haha. I love a good list! So glad you liked it!
Rebecca P. says
I love THIS! I need to make a list too!
Kathy Patalsky says
so glad you liked it Rebecca <3