1.

Drink tea.

Okay...I'm putting this as my number one because I love a cup of tea. First thing in the AM (middle of the day, PM)? Make tea. Yes, there are lots of other things I must do with my morning - think kids here - but the one thing I must do for myself? Make some black tea. Earl Grey is my favorite.

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2.

Write.

I love to write. You can find me doing it at all hour's of the day and night. Unfortunately, sometimes fortunately, I get some of my best ideas at about 3:37 AM. I don't love that time of day and you won't usually find me getting up then...but when it's quiet, no demands on my attention? I have some of my best thoughts. Plus, writing is the one thing I really strive to get better at. (Cooking used to be on that list of "get better at" but I've taken it off. And so far? No one's starving in my house.)

 

3.

People watch.

I think lots of people do this... but writers do it a lot! Sometimes this means my kids. Sometimes it's people I know. A lot of the time it means strangers. Watching their interaction helps me figure out stuff. Life stuff. Writing stuff. I watched a couple at my favorite coffee house the other day and it took only a split-second to see they were fighting - just in how they were sitting. And after a few peeks it was clear to see they were in the "we're gonna break up" stage. They didn't finish the job at the coffee shop but I would have bet money it was coming that day. Fascinating. It's rude to rush strangers and say, "so why are you breaking up?" So... I didn't. But. Their argument is fodder for my imagination and the posture will definitely make a replay in some story down the road.

 

4.

Water...anything.

Okay... I love water. Being in, on, or around the water makes me happy. Not the frozen kind as much, more the wet kind - warm or cold. I sail, SCUBA dive, swim, sit by the water, look at the water, feel alive by the water. Last vacation with family was to North Carolina. We went to the beach most days for at least part of each day... One day I decided I just had to see what was around the next corner, and the next, and the next. I have about 3,000 photos of that one afternoon. Some of them even good. When we got back to our rooms that night my calves thanked me with cranky pain for the miles of beachy-sand walking. Even walking on the beach, toes in the sand and surf? I'm happy.

 

5.

Travel.

I love to travel. I've been a few places. Seen a few things. Met some amazing people. I love new cultures. I love seeing the smiles on the faces of others. I love seeing first-hand that we are all fundamentally the same with some unique and different cultures, colors, ways of behaving, and things we take for normal. 

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