{Insert artsy photo here}: A Note on Good Vibes

I believe in vibes. Good vibes, bad vibes, vibes so outlandish you wouldn’t know what to call them. I also believe that the type of vibes you surround yourself with have the power to determine whether you rest easy that night, or if it will be a day (one of many, hopefully) where you laugh until your sides hurt. I’ve had days like these; when I happen to get the quintessential 6.5 hours of sleep, when my pants fit just right, and when they haven’t run out of breakfast tacos at the office café. They’re glorious, to say the least.

Over the past few weeks, however, there were times when these days were farther away than winter boot season in the south. It wasn’t until I was snuggled in bed with an XXL sweatshirt, a bag of pretzel m&ms, and the Sex and the City movie that I caught myself laughing, smiling, conversing, all in the comfort of my own little room. The only event I had scheduled that day was a date with myself. Now to some that may seem a little narcissistic. But I urge you to try it. Clear your schedule one day, make a list of things you feel like doing (that’s the important part), and do it! It was that next morning that I had one of the greatest starts to my day.

So maybe this whole thing just has to do with clearing my schedule for some much needed me-time. But my first thought was this, “what if we were to surround ourselves constantly by things that bring us ‘good vibes’?” What if we were to take control, look inside ourselves, take note of what makes us smile, and then make certain that we had it within arm’s reach as much as we’d like?  

Another important aspect would be that that which gives us good vibes, or makes us feel good, is wholly our own. There have been countless times where I have tried so hard to take in the vibes that other people surround themselves with and for obvious reasons, it does simply doesn't work. I don’t get the same satisfaction I do when I try and follow others. That being said, I decided to make a short list of things that I believe bring me good vibes…

Indie films
Coffee

Latin music

Kiss-on-cheek greetings

Sex and the City 

Pretzel m&ms

Shopping 

Breath-taking photography

Coconut-scented hair products

Hot tea past midnight

Early morning brunch with mom 

Early dinner talks with dad 

BodyFlow class at the YMCA

Long hugs 

Back-scratches

Sushi

Getting into costume

Reading the paper 

Blogging, le duh.

I feel happy just putting these kinds of things on paper. What I know to be true about every single one of these items is that they are the sweet little gems in life—things that will make me smile no matter what. (Note that Whataburger and theater, though both near and dear to my heart are not on the list—one is only great for about 2 hours until I feel like a complete potato and the other, the nerves – and pit stains-can be a REAL struggle). 

So there we go, my bodacious butterflies…good things--good vibes--good feelings--good days. I realize that sometimes we can’t help it and we wake up and it’s raining, and our break-up song is playing loud and clear on the radio, and all we want to do is sit, and cry, and be miserable. And that’s ok. But we can’t have that for too long! The world needs more smiling faces.

Xoxo 
Ale