These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Spending time with my granddaughter is one of my favorite things!

Like many people, I’ve struggled to get through the days and nights during the last week. I let myself be immersed in despair for a few days, but then I began breaking myself out of the well of melancholia I had fallen into. Bare hands were not enough for this level of digging. I needed tools, and so I began a search for my favorite things to shovel the detritus of grief aside.

Family

Time spent with my children, their partners, my husband, and grandchildren is the main sustenance for my soul. We talked, we hugged, and we encouraged one another. We are stronger together.

Friends

I’m a mix of an introvert and an extrovert, but in times of sadness, I tend to burrow deep into my cocoon of comfort. Some withdrawal is healthy, but I also need to connect with like-minded friends, whether it be in real life or simply an exchange of support through texts, messages, and e-mails. We need that connection, maybe even more so when all we want to do is retreat.

Books and Movies

It might seem contradictory to my previous statement about the importance of connection, but it’s OK to balance engagement and escapism. As is my lifelong habit, I’ve found solace in reading. I’ve indulged in easy, heartwarming books that gave me warm, fuzzy feelings and didn’t require much brain activity. I even escaped into a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie when I was alone one evening. Even as I watched it, I cringed at its corniness, yet I kept watching because I was confident it would end in a “They lived happily ever after” ending I desperately needed.

Exercise

I’m one of those weird people who enjoy exercise. However, when I get emotionally down, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that I like to exercise. That’s when I need that endorphin release the most, but getting out of bed can be the hardest part. When motivation is lacking, discipline takes over. For the last week, I’ve been packing my workout bag the night before, so all I have to do is roll out of bed, throw some clothes on, and go to the pool to swim laps. I can’t say I’m always thrilled to leave the house when it’s dark outside, but I never regret having exercised.

Baking

Please don’t judge me for this, but baking is also one of my favorite things. I find the process of baking to be a stress relief. Eating the results of my baking therapy is pretty delicious and therapeutic in its own way. It’s all about balance, right?

Home Projects

This one is a bit strange, but home projects are one of my favorite things! I love walking around the hardware store, getting advice from the experts, and filling my cart with what I need, and usually some extra things that I can’t resist. This last week, I took on doing some minor drywall repair and painting the bathroom. I thought it would be a quick afternoon project, but once again, I underestimated the project or maybe overestimated my abilities. It bled over into a second day, but I enjoyed the project and felt a much-needed feeling of accomplishment.

Grandchildren

You must have known this would be on my list of favorite things! Spending time with my grandchildren provides an emotional escape for me. Being with them transports me away from worries and stress and allows me to live in a fantasy world of fighting dragons, swimming like mermaids, and being pirates on a ship. When I woke up Monday morning, my first thought was that it was Sylvia’s day for ballet, and I didn’t want to take her. I wanted to lie in bed and do nothing. Of course, I got out of bed, and we went to ballet. My attitude made a 180-degree turnaround as I watched my four-year-old granddaughter and her friends dance. Spending time with my grandkids is the magical antidote to sadness.

Your list of favorite things might look completely different than mine. Some people find music soothing, while others immerse themselves in art. For some, it’s a walk in nature or sharing a cup of coffee with friends. Or maybe, like Maria in “The Sound of Music,” raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens make your list. Finding your stress relievers and employing them in difficult times is essential. If you need inspiration to create your list of favorite things, imagine Julie Andrews singing these lyrics.

“My Favorite Things”

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad

Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers.