What I Love Wednesday

1 . Celebrating — Going to therapy has taught me the importance of pausing to celebrate wins, big and small. Even by myself, I’ll treat myself to a coffee or pastry or a night of doing all my favorite things. The practice of celebrating reminds me to embrace the joyful moment when it’s here.

2. This pizza — A friend sent me this flatbread (that I made as a pizza using dough from Trader Joe’s) which is nearly the exact iteration of a pizza we used to eat in college. Fig, arugula, prosciutto, goat cheese, balsamic. It was easy and just as good as I remembered.

3. Atlas of the Heart — Brené Brown’s newest book! I’m a huge Brené fan–I love her contributions to the way we think about shame, vulnerability, and leadership and how accessible she makes her work. Atlas of the Heart defines and distinguishes 87 emotions and experiences. It’s almost like an emotional encyclopedia, except not boring in any way. Research shows that we have better emotional intelligence and a sense of control over our emotions if we’re able to get very specific about what emotion we’re feeling. I’m currently listening to the audiobook and I highly recommend it.

4. Curiosity — I’ve been thinking a lot about Ted Lasso’s famous phrase, “Be curious, not judgmental.” Asking thoughtful questions is a high value for me. Curiosity about people and the world shows that we care to hear another’s perspective, that we genuinely want to know them, and we don’t think we have it all figured out. Curious people make me feel safe.

5. Bonfires — There’s something so wonderful about sitting with friends around a bonfire. I want more of them this spring and summer!

6. Breaking it down on the dance floor at a wedding — I love to dance with friends at weddings. The most crucial songs are Yeah by Usher, Crazy in Love by Beyoncé, and Mr. Brightside by The Killers. If you don’t enjoy dancing at weddings, the key here is to give yourself full permission to look like a freak! Commit!

7. Cilantro — I’m so sorry for those who have the cilantro-tastes-like-soap gene because it’s one of the best herbs. I’m praying for y’all!

8. The great state of Tennessee — This weekend I visited Nashville and was overcome by nostalgia for the state of Tennessee. The midwest is great, but I do miss the lush green trees and mountains in TN.

9. McKay’s Bookstore — This is hands down the best used bookstore I’ve been to. I haven’t found anywhere that rivals the sheer volume of good books. It looks like they’re only in Tennessee and North Carolina, so if you’re passing through, it’s a spot you don’t want to miss.

10. Taylor Swift zumba — Okay, this is an idea more than an actual thing. I’m sure it exists somewhere, but I haven’t found it. What us Swifties want is a zumba class dedicated solely to Taylor Swift. You could dress in an era and dance to her music for the duration of class.