a list of things that has been adding light to my life in august

hello, hello. i hope you are well. 

ungoverned by the rules of the algorithm, I had the courage to create this mediocre article about the things that i have been absolutely loving recently. i hope you find something here that you can add to your own list. 

ICED COFFEE 

i am hardly a coffee person. to be absolutely honest, i hated coffee. that was only until i tried iced coffee and i love it. it was love at first site. i could even have it on the coldest day. 

KEEPING A BLOG 

to be specific, i love keeping a blog that is not on any social media app. i love the feeling of being free of the algorithm and actually creating because i want to, being able to choose any topic that i want to write instead of having to stick to a 'niche' in order to reach an audience. i love writing! and keeping a blog allowed me to remember what it was like to write for fun. 

JAPANESE LITERATURE 

the first book i read in japanese lit was convenience store woman by sayaka murata and i fell in love with it. reading other books in this genre had the same effect on me. i love the type stories, always so unique with amazing characters. however, the element that speaks to me the most is the simplicity portrayed by the lives of the characters in the novels. if japanese lit was a natural element, it would be fresh, cool morning air in the country side when the sun just rises. 

MOVIES FROM THE 20TH CENTURY 

similarly to japenese literature, movies from the 20th century are SO comforting to me. 

GOING OUTSIDE AND WANDERING....NO PLANS

i used to keep forgetting that life is not something to be conquered but something to be lived and experienced as well. sometimes, the 'grind' and the 'hustle' seems like the only thing promoted across all platforms, however i have come to learn that take a break is productive, spending a friday evening with no plans except walking aimlessly in a park or a forest somewhere could be your biggest forward. i wander outside with no plan. i sit. that's it. i will admit, it felt weird at first because i felt awkward and embarassed. it has become part of my evening and weekend routine. 

THE DECISION TO CHOOSE A BOOK OVER A SCREEN 

even if i chose to read one page, instead of reaching for my phone is a win. too often, i find myself scrolling only because i feel like it is the easiest way to quieten my brain at the end of the day. sure, my brain did get quieter, however it was never getting fueled. i still struggle with this sometimes and i find it so strange because i am an avid reader. a book beast, if you will. however, all that is override by the easiness of my phone. one step at a time. when i do choose my novel or even an article one someone else's blog, i feel rejuvenated. 

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS 

why did it take me this long to watch this series?! i love pretty little liars so much! the aesthetic is so perfect; it perfectly encapsulates autumn in the early 2000s. 

THESE SHOES 

yup. and i will get one in every colour. 

that's all.

thank you for reading. 

yours sincerely, 

elena