100 Things I Love...Updated!
- Apr 18
- 5 min read
A million years ago (okay fine, more like a decade) I wrote a blog post with this same title, but it was for a completely different season of my life. That version of “100 Reasons” was written when I was deep in the trenches of navigating my own mental illness, trying to make sense of the sharp twists and turns of being Bipolar Type 2 and ADHD. And I honestly was thinking of 100 reasons to go on in life, looking back on it now. Yes, the classic one‑two combo punch to the brain. 10/10 do not recommend, but here we are and there is absolutely nothing wrong with exploring yourself for reasons.
I went back recently and reread some of those old entries and honestly? It hurt. Not just because I remember how much I was struggling, but because the whole thing was so unhinged in a way that instantly dropped me back into that version of myself. It was like opening a time capsule and getting hit in the face with my own nervous system.
At the same time, it also felt like I was reading someone else’s words. Which… I kind of was. Because I haven’t been that person for a very long time. That’s the weird thing about personal evolution is you live with yourself every day, so you don’t notice the upgrades in real time. But then you find actual receipts in your own handwriting and go, “Oh. I really did change. A lot.”
And here’s the thing; even if you’re still a little unhinged (same, hi), you are still amazing! Growth doesn’t mean becoming some zen robot who never spirals; sometimes it just means you spiral with better snacks and a healthier perspective.
So... let’s talk about change.
We change, our taste changes, our standards change. I don’t fully recognize myself in those old blog entries anymore, but I can still see pieces of me in there. Like little fossils of who I used to be. One of my favorite posts back then was “100 Things I Love.” It wasn’t life-altering content. It was just a “this is who I am and what I cherish” kind of list. Simple, specific, weirdly grounding.
So I want to revisit that idea now, from this version of me. I want to see how much has shifted, and which core loves are still holding the line.
And yes, before anyone who knows me in real life jumps in; I am fully aware you all want to scream, “But we know you love rainbows!” Yes. Correct. Some things are permanent, like my obsession with color and the fact that I will die on the “rainbows make everything better” hill. But even rainbow people evolve. Remember that! Change is good! Evolve or get bored, basically.
I honestly think everyone should try this little exercise, especially if you’re in that “who even am I anymore?” season. It’s low-stakes therapy with a pen.
Here’s how to do it:
Ask yourself: “What do I really love in life?”
Then write down the first things that pops into your head. Don’t overthink it, don’t edit yourself to sound deep or aesthetic. If “freshly folded towels” comes out before “my children,” that doesn’t make you a monster, it makes you honest. Just write!
You might surprise yourself with what shows up. You might remember parts of you that got buried under bills, burnout, and other people’s expectations. You might see how far you’ve come without giving yourself any credit for it.
If you try it, drop your top 10 in the comments. I’m genuinely curious what lights people up right now, in this exact version of their life—not the curated version, the real one.
And now, here’s my list…
100 things I love, in no particular order, unfiltered, no revisions, straight from this current brain and this current heart....
rainbows (duh)
writing
fluffy blankets
roses
fine glitter
reconnecting with old friends
making new friends
that little bit of time when the lighting is perfect for pictures (The Golden Hour)
Ween
first kisses
receiving an unexpected surprise compliment
Grace asking me for writing advice
Lizzie's smile and kindness
paying it forward
Even If You Don't - Ween song
Stay Forever - Ween song
It's Gonna Be (Alright) - Ween song
clean bedding
pedicure/manicure after a long winter hiding hands and feet from the cold
Birkenstocks
when you get to dig dresses out of the back of your closet when the weather gets warmer
a cool breeze coming in the window on a hot summer night that hits your exposed skin just right
coincidences
nuances you see after missing them right in front of you
ALL cats
Jack's silly random dances
jasmin scented candles
rose scented candles
consistency
Pikachu
"green" gummies
that moment when you want to learn everything about a person, no matter how messy it is
Tortoro
Wes Anderson movies
seeing dimples you didn't see before when someone smiles for the first time with you
fairies
smutty romance books
Deric Cahill
bunnies
squirrels
raccoons
Bridgerton
ultra feminine shirts
sunsets
when someone holds your face in their hands when they kiss you
wandering thoughts late at night
frozen sliced cucumbers on my eyes
honey
wine made from niagara grapes
first snowfall of the season
tree pose
watercolors
bubbles
snowflakes
glasses
hugging trees
touching grass
milk glass dishware
Lush
bees
Cornell Botanic Gardens in the summer
Ithaca, NY
Buttermilk Falls
Cleveland Museum of Art
New Hope, PA
eye shadow palettes by Colour Pop
being the little spoon....and the big one sometimes too
fairy lights
acrylic paint
bottle caps candy
smarties
iced earl grey tea with blackberry syrup
feather pillows
moonlight
infectious laughter
flipping the pillow over to find a cold spot
when you do your hair and make-up and it instantly boosts your confidence
best friend reunions
laying on a blanket in the middle of a field and looking up at the starry sky on a dark night
conquering a fear
aurora borealis
Iceland
finding a really cool rock
cinnamon rolls with the perfect amount of icing on them
the color pink
long hugs
anything written by Roald Dahl
Neil Gaiman
Ori and the Will of the Wisps game
Spotify playlists that capture the mood just right
Schitt's Creek - my favorite show!
when my cat comes up on my lap and wants cuddles for no reason other than he just thought about me
ridiculously soft hands
orange marmalade
mint chocolate chip ice cream
that peaceful feeling after a good meditation session
lavender festivals and picking my own bouquet of lavender
a hot bubble bath with a cold glass of wine on a chilly night by candlelight
pink peonies
when I unlock a new dream I didn’t know I ever wanted
Some of these would've been on my list ten years ago. Some of them only exist because I stayed. That's the part that gets me.
If you make your own list, tuck it somewhere you'll forget about it and come back to it later. Let it be a little time capsule of who you were right now.
Here is to loving small things loudly, changing without shame , and giving ourselves credit for surviving long enough to evolve!
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