Embracing Simplicity

My favorite moments in life are the simple ones. Moments you share with people close to you. I adore car rides. Well, depending on who's driving. But there's something to be said about being able to enjoy the road closures and parking-lot-traffic because of who you're with. Bus and plane rides fit in this category also. I love music, and its ability to make a memory eternal: each time you hear a certain song play, you flash back to an isolated experience.

I love being clean. There are few things I look forward to more than being able to wash my face before I go to bed at the end of the day. On really nasty days -- those days when the world hates you and you can't find your slippers -- the thought of washing my face keeps me moving through the day. There's definitely something to be said for cleansing the part of you that the world sees most frequently. To me, it's like all the impurities, the ugly words that were said, the feelings that were hurt, the pride that was injured, the people who make you want to cry, they're all washed away with the dirt and the makeup, leaving clean pores and soft skin. It puts me in a better mood, and I sleep more soundly, not worrying over stupid things. It's a simple ritual, but it means a lot to me.

Girls drive me crazy. They're so complicated. Yes, I am complicated more often than not. But I kind of drive myself crazy also. :) I hate all the expectations that come with being around girls. I hate the competition. Oh, don't deny it, you know it's there. Who's the prettiest, who's the wittiest, who's the fastest, who's the smartest, who's the thinnest, who's the important-est, who's needs for attention are most fully satisfied-est. I love hanging out with guys. A select few in particular. But for the most part, hanging out with a guy is low-key. No huge expectations, no competition (unless you're playing video games), no cattiness, no blatant attacks on your emotions. Food, entertainment, something to do. You talk, you stuff your face, you use a yard stick as a microphone while belting out random songs, you watch a freaking sweet movie. Simple stuff. It's relaxing. I've never hung out with a girl and come home relaxed. I'm always on edge. I hate girls.

Hot chocolate is amazing. I'm sort of picky about hot chocolate, so I always make it myself. But without fail, hot chocolate always makes me feel better. It's a simple fix to any problem, from lethargy to math tests. The best is drinking a mug of hot chocolate while bundled in a big, warm, fuzzy blanket, sitting in/on your favorite piece of furniture. Cliche, i know. But so worth it.

Life is really stressful. We shouldn't complicate it anymore than we have to. End of story. Embracing the simple aspects of life -- car rides, music, washing your face, hanging out with boys, blankets and hot chocolate -- can be quite the stress-reliever.