my loves

i love laughing 'til my stomach hurts and tears stream down my face. i love rocking out to music with a good beat and singing at the top of my lungs. i love dove dark chocolates and a good glass of wine. i love taking pictures of people. i love crossing tasks off of my "to do" list. i love live acoustic concerts on a warm summer night, where you can sit outside with a drink or lie on a big blanket in the grass. i love to dance and not care what anyone thinks of my skills (or lack thereof). i love staying up all night due to a good conversation. i love reading inspirational books, and my long drive to work, because they provoke deep thinking. i love the sound of the ocean and napping on rainy days. i love chips & salsa and strawberry maragaritas from On the Border. i love my youth, and i love enjoying it to the fullest.

"I challenge you to make your own list. The only catch? You can't include a single person you know on your list. No "I love the way my husband laughs" or "I love hearing my little girl call for me." It'll be tough, I know. But this particular little exercise is about stripping away everyone who defines you and figuring out what you (not his partner; not their mother / daughter / sister/ friend) love."

I got this idea from my friend Vanessa, though it has been passed on by several people.

Start listing!