My Favorite Things

One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Sound of Music”.  The musical, starring Julie Andrews is one of love, family, finding your place in the world and perseverance.  But what I love the most about this movie is the music.  My favorite song in the movie is called “My Favorite Things” written by Rogers and Hammerstein.  In addition to the melody, it lists some of the simplest things that make the writer so happy. 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warn woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with string

These are a few of my favorite things

How simple is that?  This afternoon, as I was walking up to my front door, this song came to mind.  It is the first day of spring 2016.  It’s sunny but cool.  The brisk wind and warm sun touch my face at the exact same time which gives me a warming chill.  It makes me smile to be able to feel two sensations at the same time.  I’m coming in from work and it has been a tiring day.  I’m looking down at my feet as I walk and see my brightly painted toes peeking out from my sandals, “Ariah would love this color”, I say to myself and her beautiful face with all that wild bushy hair and missing front teeth appears.  I open my front door and another thought comes to mind “What’s for dinner?’ only it’s not my voice saying it but Elijah’s voice.  I know what the next sentence is “Mimi, can we help you cook?”  Again I smile and say to myself that I’m not cooking anything, but if you were here…yes, you can help me cook. 

I don’t remember putting my bags down but I do remember going into the bathroom, pulling back the shower curtain and running a hot bath.  Pouring in the Epsom salt and lavender into the hot water filled the place with an aroma that placed me in another space and time, not just standing in my bathroom.  I soak in my tub for what seems like hours thinking back on my week and weekend before my mind just goes blank.  Here in this bath, I feel a peace that passes all understanding.  The simple pleasure of relaxing without a care or a thought is freeing.  I’m smiling no, dam near laughing for no reason what-so-ever.  This is the simplest of times; this is one of my favorite things and it feels good. 

Our favorite things are the things that give our lives meaning because it is just for us.  Those are the things in which when they happen it resonates with us so that only we can get its meaning, we can laugh, love and persevere.  Our favorite things bring us back to our center when we have strayed off course.  It opens our hearts and minds to new possible opportunities, it makes us look back over time and look ahead in time and we are oh so grateful.  Our favorite things we should hold near and dear to our hearts, just like our favorite people.

So my lovelies, when was the last time you did your favorite thing?  Life is just too short not to.  As the chorus in the song says…

” I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad.”

Peace and blessings to you all… There’s only love.

Phaedra