Some of which, I feel compelled to point out, are not actually things, but living beings. 🙂 (Also, they’re not necessarily listed in order of preference.)
1. Dogs, cats, horses–and all other living creatures.
2. Trees–there’s something to that tree-hugging thing. It looks silly, I admit, but it grounds me, big-time.
3. Gemstones and crystals. (Duh)
4. Audiobooks and book-books
5. Candles–they give me a sense of the sacred
6. Art supplies of almost any kind
7. Magazines like SOMERSET STUDIO and CLOTH, PAPER, SCISSORS
8. Torani sugar-free flavorings–especially Black Cherry, which jazzes up a diet cola or glass of plain water without messing up my Weight Watchers plan.
9. Weight Watchers and their Simply Filling program. HOO-HAW, I can DO this!
10. 3×5 index cards, dividers and boxes to hold them. I have switched from the traditional to-do list to a system I learned years ago, from the Slob Sisters, who were very popular organizational experts back in the day, and probably still are. (They have other names but I can’t recall what they are.) The SS recommended making an index card for each daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly task, their focus being housekeeping. There were appropriate dividers for the days of the week, etc. Basically, every morning, (I used the method for years before, lucky me, I could afford help) I would lay out the cards on a counter or the kitchen table and, as I completed each job, I would refile the corresponding card under the next day. This gave me a huge sense of satisfaction AND a very clean house. 🙂 Now, I’ve resurrected the idea, but I use it for things like devotional time, blogging, listening to the Daily Audio Bible, exercising, etc. If I have a once-in-a-while task, I make a card for that, too, and simply discard it when finished. Two caveats here: 1) It’s important to include something, no matter how small, that is just for you–mine simply says, “Make art”. 2) They just don’t make index cards like they used to, and that bugs me.
11. All kinds of music–from Verdi’s FOUR SEASONS to the Beatles to Big Band–to good ole Country. Music peps me up when my energy is low, and inspires me when I’m writing or brainstorming. (I don’t listen when I’m revising or reading–too distracting.)
12. Flowers–especially daffodils, tulips and PEONIES. 🙂
13. Going to Hobby Lobby, Michael’s or JoAnn’s.
14. Glass jars full of pretty stones, buttons or craft supplies.
15. Making and receiving artist trading cards. I’ve been at this for about four years now, and I’ve amassed quite a collection of OPCs (other people’s cards) and filled binder after binder with my own work.
16. Insights–most often they arrive while I’m writing my Morning Pages.
17. Dancing. (Peek in my window some fine day and, before you get arrested or are wrestled to the ground by one of the ranch hands, you might see me boogying all over the place–much to the consternation of Bernice and the kitties.)
18. QVC (guess this qualifies as a guilty pleasure, like the next item on the list.) I mostly buy clothes (they’re good quality and often unique), household gadgets, like pressure cookers, etc.
19. Playing slot machines and, of course, winning. 🙂 I’m extremely lucky, if I do say so myself, but it’s wise to remember: nobody, but nobody, beats ‘the house’ (casino)–except for those very rare winners of a progressive jackpot, and I wonder if that’s really good fortune or a terrible curse. Like a big score on the lotto, enormous windfalls can be destructive.
20. Writing to you. Thanks for ‘listening’. 🙂
About Linda
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West.
Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.
