real space.

Well aren’t I quite the blogger …. haven’t posted anything since May. That’s productive.

But I’m here to write!

Simplicity. Life get’s way complicated as an adult, doesn’t it? Perhaps part of the reason I haven’t written in so long. So much gets in the way of the simple act of writing…

Remember when life was simple? I mean, the days your mother picked out your clothes for you, simple? I remember how easily pleased I was when I was a kid. In fact, my favorite game growing up with a friend of mine was Spy…this entailed us crawling around the house without being seen and spying on our family members. All we did was crawl around the house, and I thought it was the best game ever.

Another one? Lava. You know this one. You’d have to climb over everything and NEVER touch the ground, or else you died. Because the ground was lava. Amazing.

Life was simple. Your days were simple. Even your thoughts were simple.

Now amidst all the work, bills, people, mortgages, smart-phones or any piece of technology that has sapped us of any chance of peace, the simple life gets lost in the shuffle. Suddenly, the only simplicity you have are the memories of your childhood.

My husband sometimes tells me I’m hard to please. This saddens me. On one hand, I’d like to tell him he’s so wrong, but I can’t seem to do that, because on the other hand, I agree. Somehow in the twists and turns of my life, I became quite the negative person. Pessimistic, one could say. Without any real reason, my once imaginative, happy little mind was overtaken by the chaos of growing up. I lost my child-like abilities a long time ago. I’m an old soul. A far cry from that young girl who spent her days crawling around the house.

I admit, I’m not the same person I used to be, but I know that little girl is in me somewhere. I still appreciate the little things. I still give people the benefit of the doubt, no matter how much wrong they’ve done. Almost every Date Line I watch, I somehow always believe the suspect is innocent. I can be too trusting of people. Video games are awesome. And my eating habits are still what they were when I was 8.

See, I’m not all bad.

There’s a lot of brokenness in this world and it’s so easy to be negative that sometimes people forget what even makes them happy anymore. Pessimism may always be a part of me, but I know what to hold on to. I know what makes me happy, and Adam, even though he says I’m hard to please, knows it too. And that’s why he loves me … because first and foremost, it’s him who makes me happiest.

The list may be short, but I know what works best…

Family makes me happy. Good friends, too. Adam’s hugs get me every time. Christmas music puts an instant smile on my face, no matter the time of year. The smell of a Christmas tree tingles my senses. Puppies and kittens make my heart melt. As does Derek Jeter. The Yankees bring me joy…when they’re winning. And agony when they’re not (the agony may prove my love for them even more). No matter how bad a mood I’m in, the show Friends can always make it better. Buttery popcorn is my weakness. Poppyseed muffins, almond flavor, are the only reason I bake. A comfy bed entices me. Sleeping in is glorious. A real juicy, ribeye steak warms my belly. Mom’s gravy and meatballs will always be my first choice. Forrest Gump is the movie of all movies. Warm weather brightens my mood. A scorching hot day at the beach is the ultimate day. I’m most delirious when in Ortley Beach or Jupiter, Florida and … can I mention Adam again??

Simple.

The thing is, in this life, many of us have much longer lists of what we don’t love, or perhaps what we don’t have, instead of focusing on what’s already there that made us want to stick around in the first place. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I think this illuminates even more. I spent several days in areas hit the hardest and saw what some communities are going through. Lives have been lost, possessions gone, homes destroyed. Many have lost what makes them happy and you know what? Most I spoke with still appreciated what was left; still found a way to create a list.

Don’t let yourself get caught up in a world where pessimism is the norm and peace is non-existant. If you do, you’ll miss out on what’s truly making you happy. And in almost every life, it’s the simple things that do the trick.

Simplicity. Find it.