Read This First
This list intentionally leaves out the obvious things that make nearly anyone feel better, like family, pets and friends. It also leaves out materialistic things that make people think they feel better, like cars, houses, vacations, jewelry and money in general.
Jake and me
The List
1. Nature. There is something magical and healing about nature. It reminds me that I'm a part of a larger picture and that my problems are just a speck in the universe. When I combine nature with #5 on this list, it's especially profound.
Me, at work, drinking tea.
2. Tea. Not the cheap kind. The good stuff. The Japanese jasmine green tea leaves that are rolled into little pearls and cost way too much. Totally worth $20/lb. No wonder the Japanese consistently live past the age of 100.
3. Chocolate. Again, not the cheap kind. I'm usually most fond of Swiss chocolate. Dark chocolate with almonds is my favorite. With all the anti-oxidents in dark chocolate, who can argue about the combination of physical and mental health benefits?
4. A notepad and pen. Writing down my thoughts, worries, reminders, etc always makes me feel better -- especially before bed. It's great for me to do a brain dump before sleeping so I can fully relax and actually sleep. Writing down my thoughts and worries helps me to get them out into the open, even if I destroy the paper I wrote them on. Sometimes just the fact that I acknowledged the thought and removed it from my head is all I need to move forward and feel better. I find that writing down all my petty complaints, worries, and irrational thoughts first thing in the morning and then ripping the paper to shreds helps me to have a great day.
The free Planet Fitness t-shirt I got for joining. A gym membership is the best $10 I spend every month.
5. Exercise. It's easy to shrug off exercise and say we don't have time for it. But we all know that is complete B.S. Even if you only exercise for a few minutes 2 or 3 times a week, it's worth its weight in gold. It speeds up your metabolism for the rest of the day, improves your mood, makes you stronger and more flexible over time and makes you look better. When you look better, you feel better. It also becomes a habit that you look forward to. I know I look forward to going to the gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening and I especially enjoy workouts where I do only weight training.
6. Minimalism. And no, I'm not trying to be some annoying, trendy Millennial. I have adopted minimalism into my life in many ways, and I don't miss the old me. I don't miss the junk lying around my house and I don't miss the insatiable desire I used to have to buy stuff. I am truly happier with less and feel significantly less stress nowadays.
7. Saving money & investing. Because I buy less junk, I have more money to put toward my investments and emergency stash. Knowing that I have more room for error and tragedy (financially speaking) in my life certainly makes me feel better. I know I said I wouldn't put money on this list, but I feel this is a little bit different. Saving for your future is so much different than buying crap you don't want to impress people you don't like. Therefore, it's on my list.
8. Abraham Hicks. Oh, how I love listening to Esther/Abraham go on a rant. They make me feel like I can tackle whatever is thrown my way. Look up Abraham Hicks on YouTube if you're curious. One day, I will attend one of the cruise seminars in person.
Photo Source: National Park Service - nps.gov
9. Hot springs. If you've never been to a natural hot spring, you're missing out. It's like heaven in the water.
10. Helping someone who can never pay me back. I saved the best for last on my list. There is nothing quite like helping someone only because they need help, not because you expect anything in return. Some people have to rely on the kindness of strangers, and I always feel better when I have the opportunity to be that stranger.
Follow me to read more articles like this.
Important things to notice in that post. Got to write some of em up. Promoted :) GL
Thanks!
Congratulations @cali-girl! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honnor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPBy upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how here!
very nice post
great list! I can relate to several of these myself lol 100% upvote and new follower =) thanks for sharing cali girl.
p.s. i miss cali, went to film school in Burbank and spent a lot of time in that area. I'll be back someday lol
Any recommendations on places to visit around here that you want to see? I can post pictures for you.
Great post!!
Thanks!
also, nice hot bowl of soup always makes me feel better ;)
Yes, I agree. I forgot that one!
@cali-girl, you hit the nail directly on the head!!! I totally relate to all 10. I like seeing this from the younger generation......I'm in my mid 50's.
I have some Japanese jasmine tea ( little rolled balls) in my cabinet.....those who know, know😊.
I'm in my early 30s...not toooo far behind you. :)
Hummm.....a full 20 years @cali-girl! You're on the right track:)
Gratitude and mindfulness together are a great way to develop an ongoing awareness of the things that really matter to us... and thanks for making your list without the standard stuff!
I definitely agree!!!
Love this list, thanks for sharing @cali-girl. Imagine the world if everyone could implement.
Then we wouldn't have anything to complain about. :)
hello :)
very cool post - thanks for sharing it.
I am just discovering a lot of new things like what you have on this list, too. Working on doing more outdoors in nature and love that you mentioned exercise outside. i follow this guy on instagram @exuberantrunning who has a "gym" in his acreage out in the woods and it's amazing. I really love this idea of exercising outside!
It's whole idea behind the #vanlife movement as well. Nature provides us with freedom and a healing spirit.
Okay. Looks like I'll be following you too - we very much think alike. The only thing that's missing on this list from my life is exercise. Body and mind are connected; there are professionals in both but rarely do people connect the dots of being one with life - I expect you live a really happy life!
I am happy, yes. I'm happy to be alive, happy I have the ability to do the exercises I can do now, happy to have learned about cryptocurrencies, you name it. Balancing the mind and body is so underrated.
Even if my writing doesn't take off on Steemit, it's still giving me a reason to do it again. I'm out of practice, as life got in my way for a while. Back in high school I had multiple notebooks full of poetry and other writing. Yes, I like the prospect of earning money here, but writing is also therapeutic for me.
Glad you replied - you'd be a great fit as a writer in my Magazine. Would you be interested? I'm using part of my profits from Steemit to fund a marketing agency to help with growing it into a nice profitable converting website. All my writers will be compensated for their time when I start earning! :)
Sounds like something I'd be interested in.
Okay - drop me a line at [email protected] and we'll speak in depth :)
I also extremely extremely promote number 10 on the list. It's like the rule in which I live my entire life by.