These last several years have been full of fear, turmoil, conspiracy, pandemics, war, evil government leaders, among other things. And those are just the things that the world, or our country, dealt with as a whole. It doesn't even begin to dip into the personal things people experienced. There have been many times over the last few years when I wished I could just escape everything and slip into a hidden corner for awhile. My mind was full of heaviness and my soul very weary. Worries, stress and anxiety. I think that's the case for many, many people out there.
The past few years have taught me a number of things. And many of those things have been about people, especially people of different groups whether it pertains to politics, religion, etc. I have wondered too many times to count if there is still goodness and magic and beauty in the world. Of course, deep down in my heart, I know that there is. And plenty of it. But when I look at the news and internet, it can seem that just isn't so.
I have shared lists of my favorite things before...it's something I love to do. But, today I decided I wanted to share a smaller, more specific list of favorites that remind me that yes, there is still goodness and magic out there. It's not gone and it's still in abundance. The world's not going to "hell in a handbasket" as it can seem when we focus on the loud, overpowering voices out there.
Sometimes when your mind just can't concentrate on books and words, it does wonders to just curl up on the couch and get cozy for an hour or two and remind yourself of some goodness and magic. Here are my Favorite Little Magical Things...
♥ TV Shows that Remind Me ♥
Call the Midwife
Home Fires
7th Heaven
The Great British Baking Show
Heartland (seasons 1-7 only)
Road to Avonlea
The Middle
Blue Bloods
Gilmore Girls
Agatha Raisin
Chesapeake Shores
♥ Movies that Remind Me ♥
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women (I love the 1994 and PBS miniseries versions best.)
Miss Potter
Under the Tuscan Sun
The Hundred-Foot Journey
The Sound of Music
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Because of Winn-Dixie (a favorite from childhood)
Julie and Julia
Ramona and Beezus
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Leap Year
Letters to Juliet
Little Forest (Korean)
The Parent Trap (1998 version)
It Takes Two
The Hobbit trilogy
Lord of the Rings trilogy
Harry Potter series
Kiki's Delivery Service
The Secret World of Arrietty
Matilda
Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee Returns
Paddington
Paddington 2
♥ Books that Remind Me ♥
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (the sweetest story)
Vittoria Cottage by D.E. Stevenson
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
any of Miss Read's books
A Fine Romance by Susan Branch (so dreamy and wonder-ful)
anything at all by Gladys Taber (a true kindred spirit)
Anne series by L.M. Montgomery
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Barrows and Shaffer (seriously a favorite)
Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge
Mitford series by Jan Karon
Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series by Susan Wittig Albert
Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
Paddington series by Michael Bond
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Private World of Tasha Tudor
Distilled Genius by Susan Branch
(I want to share a list of children's picture books that embody this "goodness, beauty and magic" message and vibe. I've loved early chapter books and middle grade reads for a few years now, after returning to some beloved favorites from my childhood. But picture books are a new hobby of mine, collecting them and reading them equally. And I've found a wonderful handful or so already. I'll either share those in a post altogether or in mini-posts in my "Gems From My Bookshelf" series.)
♥ My Current & Soon-to-be Reading ♥
of course, continuing on with some of the series I shared above...and
Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch (taking this one s l o w to savour every single little tiny bit)
Mandy by Julie Andrews (nearly done reading)
and I'm poking around a few novels deciding which one I want to read next.
♥ Little Things that Remind Me ♥
~ playing beautiful instrumental music whilst cooking dinner or baking something scrumptious
~ playing fun music whilst doing tasks, chores, or working on some sort of project
~ reading a delightful novel
~ diving headfirst into a pile of children's picture books
~ taking walks in our neighborhood
~ sitting outside and breathing in fresh air
~ trying new recipes
~ working on crafty projects
~ watching a favorite comforting, cozy show or movie
~ going on drives on country roads
~ making my home as cozy as possible... even the small, hidden spaces
~ redecorating my spaces with things I already have
~ rearranging furniture
~ going to a used book sale or thrifting
~ wearing clothes that make me feel like myself
~ wearing a pretty dress and feeling l o v e l y
~ writing down favorite quotes in my commonplace book
~ junk journaling
~ painting on a canvas...even if I don't know what I'm doing
~ tidying up
~ walking through the garden
~ having tea or hot chocolate in a pretty mug
~ enjoying iced water in a gorgeous blue mason jar
~ wearing whimsical earrings
~ piling up stacks of books that I want to read
~ reorganizing my bookshelves
~ and tons more I know I'm forgetting.
We all needed to be reminded of goodness and magic here and there...sometimes more often than others. I think it's important to find the things that serve as those reminders to you. There is magic out there if we only open our eyes to see it. Goodness is running rampant if we are keen to be witnesses to it. It's not complicated or hard, but sometimes it's just more of a challenge. Filling your life with happiness and delight and magic is crucial to a good life, and this is simply one teeny tiny way to do that.
We must also protect our wellbeing, mentally, emotionally, physiologically, and physically. There are many ways to do this, and many that I put into practice myself. (Perhaps this is another post waiting to be written.) One of the biggest ways to do this is to avoid the news. Simply do not watch it, do not spend time scrolling the news on your phone or computer or spend time dwelling on all the things going on in the world. I know that some may think this means living in a state of naiveté, but that just simply isn't so. At the same time, you (and I) do not need to know every single thing going on in every single corner of the world. I check my local news and the weather, and that's it. If there is something going on in the world that I need to know about, I will find out from those sources. Too much news results in stress, depressed feelings, intrusive thoughts, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and a negative outlook on life, the world, and people. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Today, I encourage you to spend even just half an hour delighting in something that reminds you of these things. Some of the other ways that I do this are listening to an instrumental soundtrack whilst cooking dinner or fun, upbeat songs whilst cleaning and doing daily tasks, going outside for a walk- even just ten minutes around the garden, knitting a cowl during an evening at home, putting laundry away slowly and just taking my time, tidying up my bookshelves, working on a simple craft, writing beautiful quotes in my journal, lighting a candle and turning on the twinkly fairy lights each evening, wearing a pretty apron, planning sewing projects, picking out something new from the grocery store to incorporate into a meal, trying new recipes, drinking hot lemon water from a cute mug, reading a chapter or two in a gentle novel, flipping through a cozy magazine, and watching YouTube videos from fellow homebodies.
As you can see, it's not anything super mind-blowing or fancy, it's just tucking magical moments into the ordinary, everyday rhythms. At first, it may take a bit more effort and mindfulness, but after you do it for just a wee bit, it will become second nature. We could all use more magic and goodness in our days...so I say invite it in, cultivate it in all the ways you can, and then drink it up and savour it!
What are some of your little reminders that goodness and magic still exist? Do share!