How do you fall back in love with life?
clean your room. Β clean space, uncluttered space, space that doesnβt have miasma clinging to it can work wonders. Β clean the dishes. Β sweep. Β take out the trash. Β peel the clothes off the floor and wash them, and then actually fold/hang them. Β take a long shower. Β scrub behind your knees. Β brush your teeth. Β (this can be utterly exhausting, but try to get it done in a day, if you can. Β the end result is worth it.)
pull out your notebook. Β it doesnβt need to be a new notebook, but preferably one that you donβt usually write in, or that you havenβt touched in a while. Β fuck moleskins. Β the yellow legal pad will work fine. Β sit in your room, or in the park, or in the library, and write a list. Β count clouds. Β describe all the colors that you see, and note patterns that arise. Β sketch the cracks in the walls. Β note the shape light makes when it enters a space. Β talk about what the air tastes like, smells like. Β what sounds are there? Β even the white nose, break that down: air planes, fans, cicadas, anything. Β remind yourself that you are sitting in the middle of a space brimming with detail. Β remind yourself that you are not in nothingness and emptiness. Β your world is fathomless. Β it has potential.
drink cold water and try to eat something that isnβt processed. Β it does not need to be fancy. Β buy yourself an apple with the change between your couch cushions. Β eat it outside. Β if youβre someone who walks, walk somewhere afterwards, just to stretch your legs. Β take your fucking meds. Β remember that its a good thing that you are inside your body. Β your body is a fantastic and endlessly intricate machine, and even though society has smacked a bunch of poisonous ideas on it, that doesnβt change its inherent worth and splendor. Β take care of it.
read a novel. Β underline your favorite lines, and write phrases that twist your heart inside your chest on the back of your hand with an ink pen. Β read a novel like itβs poetry. Β read poetry, something decadent but unpretentious. Β watch a movie you havenβt seen before. Β if there are free art galleries near you, walk through one. Β take your time. Β let yourself bask. Β if there are patterns in what makes your soul ache, write those patterns down β marbles arches or soot crumbling bricks or dandelions or descriptions of dresses or whatever it is, write them down.
your chosen family is important. Β remember, they picked you as much as you picked them. Β the love has no obligation. Β it is given freely and it is given from a place of compassion. Β you are not a burden. Β if you need to breathe, take a minute by yourself and just exist, but remember to go back to your people. Β when they need you, listen and be gracious. Β always be gracious. Β the universe sometimes remembers things like that.
listen to new music. Β link jump on youtube or related artist jump on spotify or ask the chap beside you in the cafe what their favorite band is, and listen to that. Β listen to something that you donβt usually listen to. Β we tend to tie up a lot of memory with music. Β we are falling in love again. Β the soundtrack needs to be specific to that. Β
allow yourself to indulge in romantics. Β press flowers in old books. Β play movies with subtitles and mouth the words. Β dance in your room. Β wear something that makes you feel good, even if you wouldnβt wear it in public. Β write your chosen family letters, even if you hand deliver them. Β write poetry, even awful poetry. Β revel in its awfulness. Β eat dark chocolate and when your chosen family want to go out, try to go out with them sometimes, even if its just to the market. Β
pixelskylines
blakekathryn
kianamaiart
