no one is lovelier than you.

       Oh, Zooey. You make me feel so good for being an emotional over lover. My favorite line of this inspirational is, "Don't allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart". Yes, I cry at everything & tell way too many people I love them ( I think it freaks some people out) but I can't deny the truth. I love so many people & all very differently. I love the ones closest to me with all of my heart. I love them so ardently I feel like I could burst sometimes but you know what I also love? I love the cashier at target who's line I always go to because she is so kind to my boys. I love Jude's preschool teacher because she gives me a feeling of comfort whenever I have to leave him. I love fresh flowers in my house no matter how much money it wastes. I love ribbon, & pretty pens,  & the smell of a library book. I love watching people's mouths when they talk. I love a hug from someone you haven't seen in awhile and how your stomach tingles when they hug you back as tightly as you're hugging them. I love hairlines, that one curl that couldn't quite straighten, the direction of the hairs going every which way, a widows peak, or ducktail (good thing I'm a hairstylist, although temporarily retired). I love people's eyes, the colors can tell a story - green are my favorite, there's always so much detail. Speaking of that, I love detail, I love thinking out & planning every little spec of something. I love the sound of a vacuum picking up crumbs or my Dad turning the page of the newspaper he reads every morning. 

     Now, because I love all of these things, does this make the word love mean less? Sometimes I think I should change how much I use the word but no, that would be a mistake. I wholeheartedly love all of those things I listed & I suppose that just makes me passionate. Who could ever complain about someone being too passionate? Not me. So the answer to my question is NO. Love is love & although you may love something on different scales, it's still all the same.

      I need a daily reminder. Although I am very sure of what I love, I need to open my eyes to these beauties & embrace them more. I tend to notice the tender feeling I have for these things that are dear to me when they are not around (ain't that always the truth?). If I were to consistently think about how blessed I am to have so many joyful things to surround myself with, I would for sure be a happier person. 

Lastly, I love ME. I love that I'm sappy (hey look kate, i'm sappy too) I love that I'm a little bit spastic, and OCD, and a control freak. I do have normal qualities too. I have a big heart, I want to help people, organized, over caring, down to earth, funny (at least I think I am), compassionate, sensitive yet tough, opinionated, happy, smiley, and lastly, I am a damn good mom. 

"Whatever you love is beautiful; love comes first, beauty follows. The greater your capacity for love, the more beauty you find in the world."

— Jane Smiley

StayLovely.