As Valentine’s Day nears, we can’t help but consider love in all its forms. In today’s post, I’d like to focus on the seemingly small things I find loveable, which, when I think about them, make my life a lot more enjoyable. Bonus: Most of them don’t cost a dime, but are priceless! Here they are in no particular order:

1. Being the first person awake in the house

Allowing myself 20 or 30 minutes to be surrounded by quiet in the mornings is, to me, a necessity. Our days are filled with so much visual and auditory stimuli and I find it so important to just sit in silence once in a while so that my brain and body can relax and reset. 

2. Enjoying a cup of tea and a chat in a café with my husband

I love going to cafés and I love spending quality time with my husband. Recently, I married those two loves (pun intended!), as my husband and I have committed to weekly hour-long “dates” when our kids are in class together. We choose a local café where my husband orders a coffee and I usually opt for a chai tea latte, and we drink and chat with no interruptions. It’s heavenly for so many reasons. I can’t get over how much more connected I feel to my spouse as a result. If you aren’t doing something like this with your partner, try it. You’ll be so happy you did!

3. Hugging and kissing my children

I have two boys, ages 11 and 13. It doesn’t matter how old they get, they will always get affection from me. The smell of their skin and hair and the warmth of their bodies as I embrace them brings me right back to their infant days when we spent so much time together playing and snuggling. It’s an instant mood booster for me (and I bet it is for them, too!). I often tease them and sing Mariah Carey’s lyrics, “Boy, don’t you know you can’t escape me? Ooh, darlin’, cause you’ll always be my baby!” after one of my impromptu hugs. I know they are growing up quickly and my time with them is limited so I make the most of what I can now. Thankfully, they indulge me. Love those guys! 

4. Snuggling with our family dog

Our dog, Toast, a Cavachon, is adorable and super sweet, and she just loves to snuggle. She actually hugs me with her head (by pressing it into me) when I walk in the door. I look forward to her greeting me each day and I love when she hops into bed for some pets before going to sleep each night. She is just too cute! Who needs medicine to relax when you have a dog? She is the ultimate stress reliever!

5. The first warm day of spring

You know that first real spring day when you walk outside and feel the warmth of the sunlight on your skin and you think, “Oh, yeah. This is how I’m supposed to feel all of the time!” You feel calm, yet energetic. You feel happy and alive. If I could bottle that feeling, I would. Right now, in the northeast, that moment is just a short while away. I’m counting the days!

6. The sun setting later in the day

While changing the clocks twice a year is a practice I really wish we would abolish, I do love seeing the sun set later into the evening. I know it’s an illusion, but the perceived “extra time” I feel I have to “get-done-what-I-need-to-get-done” is a blessing, and doing so with natural light coming through my windows makes it that much better. It’s really hitting me right now how much I dislike the darkness of winter. Spring can’t get here soon enough!

7. A great book

I’ve written this before: I don’t know what I would do without books. For me, walking into a library or bookstore is akin to a kid walking into a candy store. My local library is my happy place. Why? Because it is there that I can find a great book. Over the years I have read many wonderful books, and as my fellow readers know, when you find one, it’s like hitting the jackpot. All you want to do is read. You’re disappointed when you have to take a break from reading and when the story ends, you might even feel sad. Reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures!

8. Music

I also love music. My husband calls me the female Weird Al, as I am forever making up original lyrics to the immense catalog of songs which live in my head. I “think” in music: Even the title of this post was inspired by a Blink-182 song. I play music in the car, while I cook and while I clean. It serves as therapy, motivation, and a point of reference for so many moments in my life. Where would I be without some good tunes? Not as happy, that’s for sure!

9. Walking/Hiking in nature

Whether it’s a walk by the beach or a hike in the woods, I love to be surrounded by nature. Listening to the water, the trees and the birds is like being on vacation. Every time I do it, I question why I don’t do it more often. The Japanese call this “forest bathing”. I love that! Bathing in nature. It sounds amazing, because it is.

10. Sleep

I’ll sandwich this list by saying that as much as I look forward to waking up early in the morning, I also enjoy going to bed. Cozy blankets, a little reading before I close my tired eyes, some time spent snuggling with my dog (and, perhaps, my husband!) and it’s off to sleep. Thankfully, I’m usually asleep before my head hits the pillow. It’s a reward for all of the effort I put into my day and it’s what we all need to feel ready for the day to come.

Speaking of days to come: Valentine’s Day arrives on Saturday. I wish you all a day filled with love in all its forms. And chocolate. And flowers. Chocolate and flowers are always lovely too!