Falling in Love with Life

Romanticizing things is my specialty. Maybe because I have such a wild and vivid imagination, I'm able to find or create beauty in pretty much any/everything. Fun Fact: I was held back in preschool because they said that I "lived in fantasy land and wasn't ready for the real world." Well, joke's on them because I still live here in my mind... and it's fabulous. I think people underestimate the power that we have. When we're young, we see the world with such wonder and everything around us is exciting. We tend to lose that as we age, but it is SUCH an important quality to hang on to. The ability to make believe and make life magical. Here are some tiny things that I do often that make me fall in love with life...

1.) Drinking- As an alcoholic, in a society where alcohol is romanticized, I have learned how important it is for me to incorporate my own drinks to give me that boost (without the booze). I try to decorate every single drink. Whether it's a fancy glass, a garnish, or a new recipe. When I was drinker, I never EVER drank because I liked the taste, I drank to get drunk. Now, I love making mocktails that I actually enjoy the taste of. Add a piece of fruit or a sprig of herbs/flowers and I instantly feel like I'm treating myself to an exquisite cocktail somewhere exotic. Even with coffee, this can be done. Add some whipped cream, whip the coffee to create froth, top with cinnamon, and serve in a beautiful mug with a flower alongside it.

2.) Nature- For me personally, nature is one of the most romantic and beautiful things to experience. If I'm feeling exceedingly overwhelmed or stressed out, a walk in nature will always take me out of my head. Stopping to take pictures forces my brain to really focus on the details, too. A single flower in the middle of weeds. Bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds circling a plant to be fed. A waterfall, creek, ocean... any body of water, really. It reminds me just how lovely things can be if I slow down and stop to look. It also helps that walking will release endorphins and dopamine, so my mood is guaranteed to be lifted.

3.) Music- Probably one of the MOST important must-haves in my life. Pretty much from the time that I roll out of bed, to the time I get back in bed for the night, I have music playing. I'm extremely intentional with my music too. If you've ever come over for dinner, you know this. I build and create my whole mood around music. For example, right now I am listening to Parisian Cafe music and having an afternoon coffee as I blog, because it inspires the romance in me. The wind chimes outside are also adding a special touch.

4.) Clothing/Appearance- Dress up or dress for what you’re doing in the moment. When I clean, I put on cute workout clothes and always have sneakers on. For some reason, it makes it feel more like I’m doing something for myself, not just doing mundane chores. While cooking, I like to be fresh out of shower and in cute pajamas or in a dress that makes me feel pretty. With both cleaning and cooking, you will always find me in an apron and dancing along to whatever mood music is playing.

5.) Let yourself relax- whether it’s turning my area into a little Zen den to meditate, creating a pillow mound to lay back and read or watch tv, or pampering myself from head to toe with beauty products. I ALWAYS make sure that I take time to relax, to the point where I am consciously thinking of how grateful and relaxed I am.

Romanticizing your life or living in a fairytale isn’t about being in denial or ignoring reality. It’s about realizing that you deserve to feel GOOD, even if it’s only for a few minutes out of the day. In a world where money, business, and materials are glorified, it’s important to remember and focus on the most important thing… LOVE.

Love for yourself, your life, and others. Nothing will mean more than love at the end of the day and really, nothing feels better. Fall in love with as many things and people as you can and watch your world become beautiful.