Jaded

1. Waking up the morning after, with a chance to try again and do things differently. Or, a chance to continue the road you are on. To continue to make mistakes and therefore learn.
   • No matter when you decide you want your life to change, it will change eventually. If you can’t change it now, consider that maybe there is still something you have yet to learn.
2. Being able to taste and eat amazing food! Not only this, but the fact that food connects humans in such a grand way.
3. A relationship (platonically) between two polar opposite people.
   • I think it is so lovely when two people who enjoy different things, live different lives, and believe in different things connect. They can each have their own ideals, while teaching the other things they do not know.
   • (I do think this can be somewhat tricky in a romantic relationship!)
4. FLOWERS and any type of nature! It’s such a gift that we are given such amazing creations, that are not only pleasing to look at but are actually nourishing to both our bodies and our souls.
5. Old people who want to teach lessons to the younger generation but also be taught lessons by the younger generation!
   • The same people who despite having formed solid opinions among decades of existence, still have their minds open to new ideas. They still undergo change every day and they welcome it.
6. Old people who are mean and uptight.
   • I feel like the attitude of these types of people summarizes the human existence very well. I can’t stay for sure if I would act differently if I had experienced life for decades among decades. It can be a grueling experience. It takes great strength to remain kind and gentle to the world, especially if it hasn’t been to you.
7. The smell of early mornings.
   • It may just be because I am not a morning person, but whenever I am awake before 7am, the smell is so distinct. I went to my local coffee shop at about 8 the other morning. It was foggy and cold outside, and only a bit warmer in the shop, but it had the perfect atmosphere. Nobody was there for lunch or to meet friends, the people who came in only stopped briefly for some coffee or bacon and then left. The whole place smelled like coffee and bacon and fog.
8. The very mundane.
   • I feel like so many people think the mundane is boring, but i find it so liberating and beautiful. I did some cleaning and laundry this morning, and how much it freshened up my space and my mind is amazing.
   • I think we all need to be more grateful that we have the chance to do such little things, and I think we all need to look at these little things as greater things. They build up together into monumental things.
9. Every human being and animal. I have never met a person that was not beautiful in some sort of way, neither have I ever seen an animal I didn’t admire in some sense.
10. Small friendly interactions within strangers. People who you only cross once and never again.
    • While I was visiting Ireland, I once almost run into an older woman while leaving a grocery store. I had my headphones on, and I couldn’t hear her urging me to watch out. After I noticed her, I instinctively put my hand out and apologized, and she reached for my hand and there was an odd but very connecting moment where we were just randomly holding hands and I was apologizing. This connection immediately lifted my spirits.
    • In the same visit, a couple days after, a similar moment happened. I was ordering coffee on my way to the gym and almost ran into another older woman who was asking me for directions. I did the same thing, instinctively put my hand out, and she put hers out and we held hands while she asked me again for directions. I will never see either of those women again, but they brightened my day in such a subtle but beautiful way.

Enjoy your life, and don’t take anything around you for granted. Everything is beautiful, and a gift which will only come to you once.

With love, Jade.