Sarah's Hump Day Happiness - So Much Goodness

May 6, 2020

Hey ya’ll – It’s hump day and I’m really excited to share with you some of the things that have been keeping me happy and sane. Since I live on Long Island, I’m continuing to shelter in place with my boyfriend Tom and our cats, Mittens and Toasty.

These past few weeks I’ve been finishing up my last semester of law school. Yesterday I handed in my final paper – ever, theoretically! I’ve been in school my entire life, so it’s a strange feeling; on one hand, I feel relieved and excited, but on the other hand, I’m feeling a bit sad and anxious about what life will be like now that I’m no longer a student. Mostly, I feel bored and I’ve been working on combatting that.

Here are five things bringing me happiness and joy this week:

Sprouts: I planted some seeds for an herb garden about ten days ago and I’m starting to see my first sprouts of chamomile. I love to have a cup of hot tea before bed, so I can’t wait to be able to dry out my own herbs for tea. I’m hoping to see sprouts of valerian and sage soon as well.
The Undisclosed Podcast: As a law student, I’ve been listening to true crime podcasts religiously for months now. Undisclosed is my new favorite podcast as it brings in legal experts to analyze different aspects of the case and point out flaws in the prosecution’s argument.
Writing Letters: My grandma and I have been exchanging letters over the last few weeks. I really like decorating the envelope with brightly-colored gel pens to make it stand out, and grandma loves to write about all the shenanigans going on in quarantine. It’s been a really nice way to communicate and gives us both something to look forward to, and I definitely think we’ll keep it up even after quarantine ends.
Meeting My Neighbors: I’ve lived in this neighborhood since last July, but I haven’t gotten to know any of the people on our street. Since quarantine started, I’ve spent a lot of time in my front yard, where I’ve met dozens of people out for exercise and walking their dogs. It’s so nice to have a little human contact outside of the house, even if we’re just waving and exchanging a few words. One of my favorite new friends is Bindi, a pretty yellow dog who stays close to her owner, even without a leash. Sometimes, she gives me some snuggles before moving on with her walk.
Homemade bread: Getting to know my neighbors has been great for many reasons. Our neighbor across the street heard that I liked to bake and gave me a new bread machine that he didn’t use. Yahoooo!! I quickly whipped up a big fluffy loaf of white bread, which I then turned into the most amazing cinnamon French toast… YUM 🙂 I can’t wait to experiment with other kinds of bread and expand my baking skills and my menu.

I would love to know what is bringing you joy this week. Please feel free to comment below. Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay happy!

Sarah 🙂