10 things my younger self wants to still do as an adult
I recently read Lauree Ostrofsky's book Simply Leap , which includes her seven steps to happiness. Her personal story on how she found happiness is quite incredible which is why I looked her book up – she found happiness in the months she waited for brain tumor surgery.Anyway – one of the exercises she recommends is listing 10 things your younger self wants to do. And yes, then she urges you to do them. I think she meant to list things that can be done every day, like "blow bubbles into your cereal" etc. But that encouraged me to think of things that make me happy, and how I can apply them to this everyday grownup life – even if some of them aren't easy to incorporate every day right now.Here's what I jotted down:
#1 Run through the forest with "my wolf"
When I was young, I read a book series where people of a certain tribe all had a kind of spirit animal, and I wanted mine to be a wolf. I never did get a wolf, but having a dog is probably the closest thing I could want! We don't have the chance to run in the woods daily, but jogging with her has brought a bit of that feeling to me.
#2 Read. A lot.
When I was a kid I could read 20-30 Nancy Drew (and similar) books in a single summer. I still love reading – whether it's books or diving deep into blogs. I always seem to prefer paper to electronics, though.I set a goal to read 12 books by the end of this year, since I always feel like time just goes by and my list of read-later seemed to grow and grow, and I feel sad when I haven't made time to read. Reading before sleep has been the best alternative to watching TV – so far I've read 8 books in 2018!
#3 Build and craft things
Ever since I was little I loved crafting and making things with my own hands. I've been making things less and less here in the US though – largely because making things results in more clutter in terms of material as well as the end product. One thing I could "craft" without causing more clutter, though, is cook! I'm trying to make at least one new lunch recipe per week, to not get stuck eating the same things over and over in addition to making something with my hands.
#4 Sing
I loved singing when I was younger, and was in a school music group in middle school. I started taking singing lessons a little bit over two years ago, but have been on a break for the latest 6 or so months. I was taking it too seriously, and not really enjoying myself anymore. Hopefully the break gives me some perspective – I've started singing along the radio or just to myself again, slowly getting back the enjoyment of it.
#5 Dance
I love dancing. And even more so, dancing amongst other people. There's something magical about everyone moving in the same rhythm, feeling the same music in their souls as they move. I don't go out to dance much anymore, and have found it hard to find adult dance classes I'd like. For now, I'm content with some home-alone dance parties when my legs feel restless.
#6 Stay up late into the night talking with friends
When did we get so old, that friends head home after 9pm to wind down before sleep? I miss those nights when everyone just hung out, talking, joking, just being. I'm not quite sure how to make this happen as an adult – any tips are welcome!
#7 Play dress-up
My favorite dress-up make-believe game was with my daycare friend Henri. He'd be Tarzan, I'd be Jane, and I always had to save him from being eaten my crocodiles.As I work from home or in someone else's home for the most part, I don't really "dress up" for work as I used to back in Finland. At home, I'll often stick to whatever I wore when I took Nova out for a walk and fetch. But I go to the coffee shop a couple days a week to work on admin tasks, which means I get to dress in my favoritest of clothes! As I don't dress up too often, it almost feels like playing dress-up when I get to step into the (fancy) shoes of coffee-shop-Jenna.
#8 Build blanket forts
Over Memorial Day weekend I photographed an extended family's afternoon in the life. They had the most glorious of kitchen islands, and the thought "That would make for an awesome base for a blanket fort" hit me out of nowhere. I used to build blanket forts with my cousins all the time as a kid.'
I'd really love to build some kind of blanket fort contraption around the bed. I'll have to marinate that idea for a bit.
#9 Stick my feet into the ocean
I grew up in a boating family, which meant 5-6 weeks of summer plus every weekend from May through October was spent on a boat. The ocean has always had a place in my soul, and I try to make it to the beach as often as possible.
#10 Be part of a team
I loved team sports like dodge ball (the Finnish version is a bit different from the one I've seen played here in the US) and basketball. As an adult I far preferred working out in classes at the gym instead of working out on my own. There's a sense of belonging while doing those activities in a group, which really feels amazing to me.As an expat in the Bay Area running her own business, it's really hard to feel like a part of any team. I try to hang out with other photographers, who understand what that side of life is like. The hard thing about making friends in an area like this, is that people move away, often really quickly after I get to know them.So – I'm still figuring this last one out. But being aware that it's something I need, I can work towards it instead of wait for it.