My Favorite Feelings

Hey there! Before we begin, please consider checking out the following resources:

​- Support various crucial BLM funding options here.
​- Visit the official Asian American and Pacific Islander philanthropy site here.
​

Hello friends,
​Happy 2022. It's great to see you again.

   Through the past couple of years, I've learned to really appreciate the little things, to really hone in on impactful and positive moments in my life. I've actually been wanting to write this post for a while now, but I recently heard the song "My Dog's Eyes" by Zammuto and it only amplified my desire to talk about this. Sometimes seemingly simple things are the memories that stick with you forever. So I want to highlight some of these experiences with you, and hopefully use imagery to mentally transport you to these places.

​Experience I.

   It was summer, maybe a year and a half ago. My friend, Cooper, and I were in a hiking frenzy, picking new parks to visit on the weekly, sometimes even twice a week if we could. He was supporting my fitness goals, trying to help me reach a set number of steps each day. On this particular day, we hiked some trails located in a wooded area, across the street from some farmland. It was empty for the time being, though.

   Cooper and I did our normal thing that day—we caught up on story after story, reminisced on past love interests, and discussed our goals for the future. That's my favorite thing about hanging out with him; he and I get incredibly second-hand excited for the other person and our passions about the little things, and we encourage each other and create little plans of attack on our goals. That's one of the most rewarding things about our hikes, the fact that we can leave the trails feeling physically and mentally refreshed. And add in the beauty of nature and sunlight.

​   And despite all this goodness, despite the cherished moments I've described so far, there's more.

   After absolutely smashing my steps for that day and hiking over 5 miles of trails, Cooper and I, upon exiting the woods and approaching the parking lot, saw something magical across the street. What was a seemingly empty field was now occupied by some special friends, some sweet cows. Cooper and I crossed the street and gently approached them, offering grass and giving them only the finest compliments. They were gaining trust in us, eating the grass and letting us pet them. Being accepted by such gentle and loving animals is an unmatched feeling.

   The energy that I thought I ran out of, post-hike, was restored by these beautiful beings. It just shows how impactful showing love and compassion is on one's soul. 

Experience II.

   Summer was about to transition to Autumn. I went to one of my favorite places with my friend, Cody. That place was a lake that overlooked the city of Dayton. It was still decently hot outside. Summer wasn't letting up just yet.

   Cody and I sat under a tree to avoid the sun. He and I talked about our fears, our favorite musicians, and our relationships with our families. Besides the conversations we had, I distinctly remember thinking one thing: this is a day I'll never forget. The breeze was perfect. The sound of the lake water was gentle. The way the city looked across the water was magical. And the way the sun discretely peeked through the trees above as the wind ran through the leaves felt like little kisses.

   It's not often that something seemingly unremarkable can become an unforgettable experience, but whenever I'm in a dark place, mentally, I try to bring myself back to this specific day.

​   Any day can become something unforgettable. Lay in the grass, feel the breeze, smell the air. Take it all in, every chance you can.

Experience III.​

   Sometimes, if I feel overwhelmed, I take myself out for a drive. My favorite sensations on these drives are witnessing sunrises and sunsets, or hearing a gentle pitter patter of rain on my windshield. The next piece of this is adding a song to my drive, either one where the bass hits just right, or instrumental songs that just make me feel extra hard.

   That's really all I have to say about this one. My car is an important place for me.

Experience IV.

   I've visited Michigan three times now with my friend Megan. And I've already written more specifically about our experiences in a previous blog post. But there are three specific feelings I want to highlight:

   First of all, camping when it's lightly raining outside. That sound of the rain lightly hitting your tent, combined with the feeling of being cozy and warm, are an amazing mix. Secondly, waking up and immediately feeling and smelling the breeze from the lake (Megan and I like to find campsites next to the beautiful Great Lakes). Everything feels so clean and enchanting up there.

   
​   And thirdly, realizing you're not at home. Realizing you have no where else to be but here. Realizing there's so much world that's unseen to you, and that the possibilities are endless. This is the feeling that makes me want to travel, to explore to much more. This makes me feel alive.

Experience V.

   The comfort I feel as I lay down at night and think about someone I love. I watch the city lights twinkle, and it feels like they're with me. No matter what's on my mind, searching into the night as I lay under my blankets always somehow guides me to them.

Thank you guys so much, as always, for checking out my blog today. What are some of your favorite feelings? Sound off in the comments below.

Keep on grinning!

Lydia