10
Jun
If you are new here, I love lists. That’s it, nothing more to add there. I am quite the visual person and having a representation of stuff I have to get done or research or buy really makes it easier for me. If my brain senses lack of organization, it goes straight into panic mode and refuses to cooperate.
Should you, as a functional human being, rely mostly on bullet points and sparkly highlighters? Probably not. However, when used in moderation, lists can be reliable and fun pals. Fun? You might ask yourself in slight disbelief. Yes, it wasn’t a typo. I would argue I can add another adjective to the line-up, namely cozy. Why not even whimsical? So here is a list of lists (am I in heaven?) that can brighten your mood and sort out the everyday chaos:
This first mention holds a special place in my heart. Last year, when I was going through a more challenging period, I was longing for summer. Every time I thought about it, I felt a pang of excitement for the fact that it will come, mixed with a river of sadness for it being so far away.
I needed something to redirect my thoughts from making me even more unwell to preparing my soul to bathe in happiness. I decided that, each time a summer-related thought visited me, I would ask it what it is up to. It would usually gush over all the things I would have time to do. I listened carefully, smiled dreamily and discreetly noted them all down.
And, out of nowhere, I had a source of double joy! The voice was now telling me about all the beautiful activities she has prepared for me this summer. And, when I opened the notes on my phone to write the new idea, I would bump into all the other ideas that resided there. So the enthusiasm was flooding over and the time was running trying to catch up.
Some of the vaguely described plans I wrote down where: clay toothbrush holder (I will attach a photo so it makes more sense), tea cycling, try out new workouts, clean your closet (always makes me cheery for whatever reason), Greek mythology and so on and so forth.
My note app is a mosaic of every version of myself I have ever embodied. They all live there and find it rather snug. Since high school, I would write down all poetic-sounding phrases, verses or impressions that arose in my mind. I started this ritual because I had been lying to myself for too long that I would “simply remember it” when I needed it. It is the creative equivalent of “I will only rest my eyes for 5 minutes”.
The flow of ideas is very random. I don’t even rate them, I just not-so-gently push them out of my head and between the trusty lines. They include everything from “we’ll always have the same atoms” to “tell the petals I do love you”. I play this game where I try to guess what I was going through when I wrote it. I always end up feeling smitten with tiny me going through different stages of her (my?) life and taking the time to make poetry of it all.
It is truly inspiring, collecting pieces of the way your mind works.
Each time I lay my eyes on an intriguing title, I tend to note it down. Or, more modernly, to take a picture or screenshot of it. Because, similar to the ideas, no matter how unique a title may seem, it is likely you will forget it relatively soon. I don’t want to take that risk, so I capture everything through different methods.
Make a list (or a gallery, if pictures are more up your alley) for all the movies you want to watch, all the art you long to see in person, all the books you feel called to. They all infiltrate your world because you could benefit from their stories.
Bonus points if you make a visual list and simultaneously treat it as a manifestation board! Maybe you get inspired by a stunning looking museum and upon remembering it and looking up its location, you realize that place could make for an exquisite city-break or vacation spot.
Don’t just view the art, let yourself be engulfed by it. Let it impact more than an immediate second in your life, allow it to guide your path for a minute. See what happens when you think with your heart, when you let the art flow through your whole being, not just your eyes or hands.
Researching is one fancy way of saying “looking up stuff”. If you want to make it more mystical-sounding, you could substitute it for “discovering” or “exploring”. Mainly, it consists of being aware of your interests, as well as your environment.
Everything is a potential source of knowledge. If you happen to stumble upon something riveting online or anywhere else around you, don’t just stop there. Take out your trusty notebook or app or hypoallergenic patch of skin and jot it down (not just a mental note, I beg of you).
For example, this is how I became interested in EFT-tapping, by seeing someone online practice it. And my first reaction was to be impressed and intrigued by it, then scroll down because I didn’t have the time to try it right then. Instead, I made a tiny conscious effort to add it to my list of stuff to research when I got the time. Right now, I am almost done with an online EFT-tapping course and I must admit, I am so glad I didn’t miss the opportunity to take in this knowledge!
Research doesn’t have to include only academic subjects, even though they can be super fun too! I recently saw a post about an online Human Behavioral Biology course that’s offered by Stanford and it is completely free (or so the girly said, I didn’t check it out yet, but it is on the list!). Or the fact that you can register for an Art History class just by downloading an app (namely the Art Explore Academy).
Sorry, kind of lost the point in there for a second. Yes, research can be regarding anything, from recipes (basically a chemistry experiment) to face masks (less edible chemistry), so no matter your field of interest, the possibilities are many and exciting!
The last point on the list is the most important, as it contains presents! My main love language is obviously gift-giving so this one makes me extra giddy. When I say a wishlist, I am referring to what you wish to receive, no matter if it’s from yourself or another person. This one is also very helpful if your partner or friend or anyone interested is struggling to find you the specific gift you desire.
However, if your control issues are not as acute as mine, you might use it for the opposite purpose. Make a giftlist for a loved one! I have one where I note down each thing my boyfriend briefly mentions wanting. Then, for his birthday or Christmas or any other excuse I find to give gifts, I consult the list. It really comes in handy and not only does it save you a lot of headache, but it makes the other person feel seen and understood.
This list galore could go on and on because, let’s face it, a lot of messy situations could be solved with the help of some quality mental organization. And it’s really not about optimizing or transforming anything in a task (you don’t even have to add a square for the checks, if you don’t want to).
It is about slowing down for a second and finding a tangible and accessible way of connecting to our surroundings, our passions or our loved ones.
