A List of Things That Make Life Worth Living

Sundried tomatoes, tiny kittens, the smell of grass after it is mowed, a clear night sky where you can see the swirls of the galaxy, music that hits your brain just right, a perfect Pinterest board, your skin feeling crisp after a day on the beach, smiles from people as you pass them, Michelob Ultra out of a glass bottle with a lime, when you see your adult siblings and even for just a minute it feels like you're kids together again, the green on the Flint Hills in the summer, a really good dive bar, a good hair day, trees that make you feel small, the fact that there is always more of the world to see, impromptu dancing with strangers, your team getting a surprising pick-six, outdoor country concerts in late July, your dog welcoming you home, inside jokes with your friends, someone noticing something small about you, how babies fit perfectly in your arms, the warmth of the sun when it is chilly in the shade, perfectly ripe pineapple, getting runner's high, baseball, playing cornhole at a backyard party, really big snowflakes falling, Crumble's chocolate chip cookies, when words flow together so beautifully, a 80 degree day on the golf course, when the homily at Mass is exactly what you needed to hear that week, your sister matching your energy when she answers your facetime call, horses, meeting someone new and it just clicks, diving into a cool lake for the first time in the Summer, the promise of Spring, tracing white lines on the interstate, monarch butterflies, lemons, purposeful eye contact, a fresh nail set, parents who make sure you know they are proud of you, God's full presence in the Eucharist, watching little kids play hockey, your 2-year old cousin calling you his favorite, water from a Brita, watching the sunset from momma's back porch -- the hope that this list is actually infinite and there will always be more reasons to live.

All my love,

Neva