Poetry is a relatively new interest for me-- I was never a big fan until my senior year of high school-- so I allowed this newly discovered love to influence my (fairly impractical) decision to take a lower-level English class this quarter, so I'd have the opportunity to be with my favorite professor one more time, who's an adorable poet. I'm realizing now that it would have been much smarter and more Gryffindorly of me to have branched out and taken on a bigger challenge, but I don't totally regret my choice. I really do admire the teacher, and something about her classroom just makes me feel... (ugh, gag me; I hate this word) inspired. I think I'm the only English major in the class, and I'm pretty good at multi-tasking when it comes to my subject of choice, so I don't feel a whole lot of guilt zoning out and scribbling things on my notebook. Today, when I wasn't silently gushing over Sharon Olds, I covered two pages with a spontaneous list of things that make me happy. So. Here you go.
--I love how little spicy pepper flecks from Chipotle's hot salsa can hide on your tongue, so your mouth pleasantly stings for an hour after the goodness is gone, even after you've eaten an entire cup of ice cubes.
--I love the effortless way Jess understands everything I think and say, even when I don't. (Also, the fact that she keeps a blog containing nothing but lists of the gross things she eats.)
--I love the way The Situation shifts his eyes back and forth when he's making a point.
--I love those times when my entire family is home, and we all become so invested in our conversations that we neglect the table and end up standing around the kitchen counter to eat.
--I love how a line in a poem can strike a part of your brain that you hadn't noticed was asleep before, and you can't rephrase the line or explain why it makes sense, because it's perfect and beautiful in that it says something that's never before been put so well.
--I love driving around with Lor, being able to rely on the comfort and relaxation I've always felt with her, and knowing that her friendship is one solid constant in my life.
--I love talking to Leah on the phone, just sitting in awe of how quickly her brain works, and having someone so invested in me that there is literally nothing I could say that could undo her loyalty.
--I love slipping into Hogwarts, where there are inside jokes and subtle secrets that I get to be privy to, because I've been involved for so long.
--I love the youtube community, and the astounding amount of creativity that comes out of the fiveawesomegirls' Secret Awesome Facebook Thread.
--I love having giggly slumber parties with my grown-up sisters (and sometimes brother-in-law), proving that you can have a law degree and still make jokes about Nickelodeon shows.
--I love when my nails are all long and even and shiny and elegant, so it doesn't even matter what I look like that day, because at least one aspect of my appearance is feminine, pretty, and under my control.
--I love reading comments and messages and watching video responses from people who are able to convince me, through their kind words, that all this writing and filming and spewing isn't in vain.
--I love walking past people in rainstorms, and how it makes the whole world feel like the inside of a bookstore: calm, quiet but for soothing white noise, and like everyone around has something in common, despite the fact that we're all choosing to think silently to ourselves instead of talk.
--I love hot tea, and how it always, inexplicably, makes me feel like I'm in a Dickens novel.
--I love how my father, whom I consider to be the smartest man alive, genuinely listens to me, and allows his opinions to be altered by his teenage daughter if I make a decent point.
--I love the triumph I feel when I make my big brother, whom I admire in a thousand ways, laugh, or proud of me.
--I love that feeling when you read a line in a book that you realize you've always related to, but never consciously thought about before-- like all people are essentially the same, and somebody understands your weird self.
--I love waking up with that sense that everything outside your bed is cold, but, for now, you're combating the elements by snuggling under the covers.
--I love those rare occasions when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and think, "Oh, damn. I look cute today."
--I love feeling at home with my friends at school, then realizing that I didn't know any of them a year ago. I love thinking about how many other amazing and influential people I'm destined to meet later in life.
--I love lying in summer grass and seeing colors through my eyelids.
--I love having real, adult conversations with my mother, and realizing that I'm becoming more and more like her as I grow up.
--I love the satisfaction of moving my hand and a Bic pen across a piece of paper, leaving behind my nasty handwriting, but knowing that I have permission to not make any sense, because it's supposed to be sloppy. I love the internet for preserving these sloppy thoughts in a legible fashion, so even if they don't mean anything to me a week or year from now, they'll still exist.
I hope your day feels like being under the covers at 9AM in February. Thank you, sincerely, for reading, and for positively influencing my life with your comments.
Chipotle burritos this year: 4
Subscribers: 24,679
Nail Color: "Rogue Vogue," Maybelline (Discontinued)
Miles run today: 3
103 comments:
God I love your writing style.
More. MOAR.
My promise still stands of buy twelve copies of your debut novel.
And even though my Monday held true to its name, you made me feel better.
Continue writing, Hayley. You make the world better.
This post left me with a warm feeling of contentment. :]
I totally agree with the rain one. It rained today and I love the way rain sounds on the roof. Rain always reminds me to relax and enjoy the moment.
Thanks for that. Now back to confusing Calculus...
I love the times when I'm just itching for something well-written and funny to read on the internet and lo and behold, there's a new post by Hayley. That and snuggling under the covers. Both are awesome.
As always Hayley, after a crappy day, I get to finish up a grueling and tedious 8 hours of work to find you have posted in your blog (yay!)
As always - and from all the way on the other side of the world - keep writing. Your words always inspire and brighten any day of mine!
Everything you say is so beautiful!
That just made my day. I'm going to do my own now... I may even post it.
Hayleyyyyyyyyyy.
"I love how a line in a poem can strike a part of your brain that you hadn't noticed was asleep before, and you can't rephrase the line or explain why it makes sense, because it's perfect and beautiful in that it says something that's never before been put so well."
Punctum! Sounds passing through sudden rightnesses!
God. I love you.
These are the sort of things that need to be in those books with "400000001 things to be happy about" because sure babies make me happy, but your list leaves me with more warm and fuzzies than any one of those random 400000001 things.
This is beautiful. I may write a blog in this style, soon. I hope this is okay, dear.
Life is a beautiful mess that never makes sense, yet fits together impeccably at the same time.
Gotta love our Creator. :]]
We are alike.
You are lovely and a little bit profound.
I love most of what you love and I think that's really awesome. It's like you said it way better but you know... it's cool.
aww. I wish I could write out the stuff I love like you do. I just ramble a lot, or am at a loss for words.
I bet your mom teared up when reading this.
looovess ittt
Hayley, no pressure or anything, but I am counting on you to write amazing books for my future teenage children, because I know you will. :D <3
the luff song
I think you'd enjoy this, especially in your current state of euphoria.
I love you so much. You are one of the greatest, most brilliant people on the planet, and I'm so glad we're friends. Just in case you forgot for a second.
And now, a poem:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Hayley is awesome-
Now,make me a sandwich.
awww, this made me happy for no apparent reason :)
I love the way I feel after reading one of your blog posts: warm, content, happy, emotional, inspired and a plethora of other feelings (depending on the post, of course. :P)
I also love rain. And the "damn, I look cute today." feeling. And everything else. xD
Don't ever stop writing. You're amazing. <3
-alex
That's beautiful.
Can I just say, that after your last blog, I was inspired to write one? It doesn't remotely compare, but, I hope that maybe someday I'll make as much sense in mine as you make in yours.
It's a little odd, since I am the same age as you, but you are still kind of my hero. Everything I've always been too afraid or too shy to do, you have managed. You write, and you aren't afraid to actually major in English. You post interesting vlogs weekly. You aren't afraid to be yourself. I envy that.
:)
I bet you made a lot of people happy with that list, and yes, possibly teary as well. For me though the best thing here is the new word Gryffindorly which is perfect and also made me laugh.
I saw and felt so much of myself in your words, and it really felt like reading one of those lines you read in a book that you can so closely relate to.
Thank you for blogs such as this! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :P
Hayley, I haven't read many blogs in my time, but this is by far my favorite. Your writing is becoming more and more beautiful every day. I wish I had a book on my shelf written by you.
This post calmed me down and made me all happy inside, the way I feel after a delicious cup of tea. I don't know you, but your blog posts always make my day a little happier and I thank you for that.
i love your writing and everything that you say. even if i don't agree, everything is so eloquently and poetically put that i can't help but be a little bit persuaded. i love reading about your love.
Wow, Hayley.
I was having a bad day and thought that Mike's video and new song were what was going to cheer me up today, but I read that as I listened to his song again and now I feel so content.
You two are seriously turning into my top two things to make me happy when I'm sad.
I've never commented before, although I've been reading your blog as long as you've had it...
But anyways. Something about how freely the love seems to flow from this post really got me wanting to comment. I've been having an especially hard with things in my life lately, but the days that I come home and find that you've blogged are the best. You really *cough* i n s p i r e me sometimes. Thanks for being pure, unadulterated you.
I'm going to re-read this post whenever I want to recreate the inexplicable warm feeling that just washed over me.
Thank you, Hayley.
You made my day a bit better. Thanks. =].
Keep writing! You're great. =D.
I love the fact that I smiled and really related to over half of those "I love..."s.
Also, unrelated, but I think this is a good venue for you to be aware of this: since I'm Jewish and I live in the suburbs and am basically only exposed to kosher food, I had, until last week (prepare yourself), never seen a Chipotle store/restaurant before. Then, while I was on a bus going somewhere with my school in the city and staring absentmindedly out the windows, there it was: Chipotle Mexican Grill. I did one of those little silent freak-outs that I do when I discover something nerdfighterly irl. It was awesome :)
This post reminds me of 1000awesomethings.com in that everything you said left a smile on my face because either I can relate or it's just a fun thought. :)
Awesome things like these make me love life!
- I love your blog.
I love that simple words, WORDS, can completely and utterly create a feeling of contentment.
Hayley, this was lovely. I'm at a loss for words (WORDS!) because this post was just that good and so relatable - it's amazing.
I love when people you have never met before or even directly talked to are able to influence you. Thank you Hayley.
/sappy fangirling
2 things. i thought i should tell you.
1. according to your "blog archive" your entries for february are "i love ..." and "fourteen year olds and love" and my brain, doing as it often does mashed those together so i read "i love fourteen year olds and love"
and it made me giggle.
2. my nail color is mint sprint. and i looooooooove it. (even though the brand chips SUPER fast, so i never keep their colors on for long.)
Dear Hayley,
I've never thought of us as being similar and I've always had a nagging thought in the back of my head saying "we wouldn't be friends in real life". Because I adore you personality, but I don't know how compatible we'd be. But all that is unimportant, because you writing brightens up my day. It feels comfortable. And that's what a writer should really aspire to, right? I think you've gotten there or are at least really close. You have an audience that loves you not just for your persona, but also because of how you present that persona through words.
With love,
Dana
*your (twice)
I love this post; you truly are an amazing writer, Hayley.
I actually chose my minor (religious studies) because I was so inspired by my favourite professor in first year and wanted to be in more of his classes. What was at the time a really impulsive decision turned out to be really right for me, and was probably life-changing.
(That same year, I came home from a class "inspired", and wrote a long list of things I love. I kept it and still read it over when I need reminding how much I love life.)
Hope you have a wonderful week and continue loving college and life!
Hayley, I love to read your blog because you write so well about life. I especially enjoy reading your posts since you've been so happy lately; it shows through your writing. I personally have been in a sucky place in life but reading this blog post before going to bed reminded me that maybe everything isn't so bad.
Thanks!
Having been influenced by the cliched "warm, fuzzy feeling" that your blog gave me, I took a whole hour plus to write down the things that I love. I am very content right now. Thank you.
"--I love the triumph I feel when I make my big brother, whom I admire in a thousand ways, laugh, or proud of me."
That one was my favorite, because I love that, too :)
It's funny that the url you tweeted was "readthiswithtea," because I recieved that while I was drinking a terribly refreshing beer. Which can serve the same purpose at times.
"I love reading comments and messages and watching video responses from people who are able to convince me, through their kind words, that all this writing and filming and spewing isn't in vain."
^What an amazing cycle of magical whatever that is. You're verifying that commenters professing their appreciation of you does not go unnoticed, so you just did the same thing for us as we did for you. *head explodes*
blech. too cute hayley, too cute. where did all the angst go?
(i'm glad you're in a good place)
I loved reading this, and I liked being able to smile about the ones that I could relate to in someway. This was a good blog to end my day with, thank you :]
I agreed with most of the stuff you wrote about. The only things I didn't were ones I haven't experienced yet, so I look forward to them happening to me.
When I first read "I love the effortless way Jess understands everything I think and say, even when I don't.", I thought it said Jesus, not Jess. I was going to make a comment about how deep your relationship with him must be, but alas it is not Jesus.
"--I love how a line in a poem can strike a part of your brain that you hadn't noticed was asleep before, and you can't rephrase the line or explain why it makes sense, because it's perfect and beautiful in that it says something that's never before been put so well."
-i know Exactly what you mean
and its happening to me more and more, my brain is opening up bit by bit, and parts of it is thanks to you hayley, for again, using words in a way that i'm not capable.
oh my god, you have no idea how this made me feel. I'm kind of going through a weird an crazy time in my life and this almost made my cry, it's so amazing and real.
I don't know if that made any sense.
I wish I could write like you someday.
I love...
-Listening to wizard rock as I drive home from school. It makes me feel like I have my own special secret world that nobody else around me could even dream about.
-The way sometimes, out of nowhere, my best friends and I will be laughing so hard that we'll literally be fighting over who gets to use the bathroom first so they won't pee their pants.
-Driving down the highway, at night, with the windows down, Arcade Fire blasting, and my friends in the car beside me, shouting themselves hoarse.
-The fact that my sister, my best friend, and I still have inside jokes from when we were about five years old.
-The fact that said inside jokes usually involve Harry Potter.
-Brushing my teeth. For some reason, it makes me feel really productive.
-Singing in a choir. Especially if it's a hugely beautiful song with clashing chords and Latin words and crescendos all the way from pianissimo to fortissimo. The songs that make me literally clutch both hands over my heart, the songs that give me goosebumps in places all over. Those ones.
-Doctor Who.
-My best friend's hair.
-Having a mom who listens and cares as much as my mom does.
-Hot apple cider with caramel that tastes like Christmas Eve.
-Cumulus clouds.
-That feeling I get when I've been doing my AP homework for hours and hours, hunched over a desk, my back all cramped up, and then I finally lie down on my bed and all the muscles in my back completely relax and I can just lie back and read a book.
-Valentine's Day chocolate.
-Realizing that a word really sounds or feels like what it means.
-Completely absorbing the feeling that a piece of art or film or writing gives you.
Have a great night, Hayley. <3
-Melody
i think your last point ended up being a line like you talked in your point about books. this was warm and fuzzy, but in a really good kind of way.
I hate that I am completely, undeniably jealous of your life.
That made my soul feel as warm as the tea I'm drinking right now. I've never been able to figure out what it is about tea that I like so much, until right now. It makes my life, for the 10 minutes I'm drinking it, into a Dickens/Austen/Bronte novel. I love that!
I'm taking a course about reflexivity, which is basically summarizing how you know what you know. But it also branches out into how important it is to think about what makes us happy, and why it makes us feel that way.
You pass. :)
I figured I'd share some of the things I love.
-I love that feeling of getting home from a long day and slipping my shoes off and not untying them.
-I love bundling up in my comfy sweater when it rains and wrapping my soft scarf around my neck a few times and combating the cold
-I love the feeling of my neices heavy body in my arms after she's fallen asleep to my insane made up fairy tales.
-I love when my roommate and I laugh at one of our MANY inside jokes till we can't breathe
-I love the feel of learning a new chord on the guitar
-I like the butterflies I get when my handsome guitar teacher puts my fingers in the right place and compliments me on the work I did in the last week. (I have a huge crush on him)
-I love the poster board full of hillarious quotes that get uttered at our house and the fun memories they bring up
-I love when I look at my turtle in his tank he recognizes me and swims up to my hand on the glass.
and Lastly
-I love the feeling this post gave me: peace and happiness.
Hayley Girl, I love you!
I took advice from the tinyurl you posted on Twitter and read this with a cup of tea. A lovely end to a lovely day.
<3
This was nice. :)
aw.... that was a really nice one today Hayley. thank you for that.
I particularly like "--I love how a line in a poem can strike a part of your brain that you hadn't noticed was asleep before, and you can't rephrase the line or explain why it makes sense, because it's perfect and beautiful in that it says something that's never before been put so well." I often feel the need to quote things to my dad and say "Gah! how amazing is that!"
I said this last time I commented, but oh well. You just made me feel better about a pretty crappy day. Thank you. (again)
<3
I made a list like this last week. Interesting how even though some of my list items sort of matched your list items, our voices are so different. Voice is such an interesting thing.
This blog has completely changed my crappy day. Thanks xx
Mego and I are on the same page.
Don't ever feel like you are not one of the coolest people on the earth.
Because you are.
If Liane has the ability to cure AIDS with her music, you definitely have the ability to cure Cancer with your writing! -A truly "(ugh, gag me; I hate this word) inspired" fan of you. :)
YOU GET THE DICKENS FEELING TOO?
I'm not the only person out there. :]
Despite growing up in a household where my South African-born father loved tea more than my English-born mother (though she now swears adamantly up and down that she is completely American, since she has the passport and years in the military to prove it, and so does my Dad), I do not get visions of Springboks and lions when I drink tea. No, instead I feel like I'm some ancestor of mine huddled in a rickety farmhouse in Yorkshire sipping tea after bringing the sheep in for the day, or perhaps I'm the flighty cousin who instead of taking up the family tradition of farming, decided to run off to London to become a lawyer (or something like that), and I'm sitting at a drafty window in a boarding house, studying musty old textbooks, while ladies in petticoats and chimney sweeps walk by in the street below.
Yeah. I'm glad someone else gets the Dickens feeling when they drink tea, too.
God, I love just everything you do, Hayley.
This was absolutely beautiful and actually made me excited to walk through the rain again since now I have the image of it being like a bookstore lol.
Your writing is amazing and always manages to lift me up and inspire me. Nothing you do here or on youtube is in vain.
Write a book, let us read it. PLEASE!
Never stop writing Hayley. It always makes my day.
i love the days when I go to my Bookmarks, click on The Hayleylujah Chorus, and find a new blog post waiting for me to devour :]
"I love walking past people in rainstorms, and how it makes the whole world feel like the inside of a bookstore: calm, quiet but for soothing white noise, and like everyone around has something in common, despite the fact that we're all choosing to think silently to ourselves instead of talk."
remember that bit about the line in a poem? yeah.
I love that you love the little quirky things about our family as much as I do. I can't wait for a combination of eating around the kitchen island at mom and dad's and a sister sleepover this weekend. It's about the only thing that will make the next 10 days enjoyable for me :) Love you my amazing little fuzzball sister.
That was so gorgeously written. I think what makes you great is that you can make sense out of the jumbled thoughts that run through peoples heads, and do it so that they make sense and sound incredibly beautiful.
I love waking up and feeling like the sheets are the only thing between you and the cold world. (in so many ways)
Welcome to Hayley's jacuzzi Yo Yo Yo.
(Do you get it?)
Have a week full of awe Hayley!
WHOA! Hayley you ran 3 MILES! that's awesome!
You should write on the blog more often, i LOVE reading your posts, they're amazing!
Some day you should publish a book. I'd know I'd buy it, and I'm sure that everyone who reads this blog would buy it as well!
I love a lot of those things as well, especially the walking in the rain. :)
Do you mind if I steal your idea for my blog?Your writing is fantastic. You are a true poet.
That was awesome and simple.
I love how the internet lets you relate to complete and total strangers. :]
I love "I love.." lists, when I write them and when I read them.
Great list. Here's mine:
1. Allowing a good book to consume you (and vice versa.)
2. Opening the cupboards to find a choice of 3 or more cereal options for breakfast. (Then not being able to decide and eating all three mixedtogether.)
3. Cozy Saturday nights spent on the couch with dinner and a movie.
4. Knowing that my bike can get me (almost)anywhere a car can.
5. Getting things in the mail.
6. Waking up to find that we're still cuddling in the same position.
7. Summer-time picnics, especially at the beach.
8. Making things all afternoon and then revelling in my productivity.
9. Hearing that favorite song performed live.
10. Welcome-home hugs.
Also, if you get a chance check your hotmail account.
After reading the list of things you love, I realizd that more then half of those things are very similar to things I love in my life. But I never could've put them into such elegant words. You are my idol.
This just might be the best blog I've ever read. And I'm including authors and professional bloggers in this. <3
Oh, and this list of things that make you happy has definitely made me happy. :)
I love making lists of things I love.
&Your blog posts continuously make me feel better about everything. Thanks :)
Please don't ever stop writing. Except, like, to eat and stuff. Everything about you is brilliant and so...inspiring.
I love how even though I don't know you, I feel like I do. I can recognize crazy Hayley, and the brilliant Hayley who runs this blog.
I love how this blog is so well kept, inspirational, and really enjoyable to read.
I love that I know there are others like me.
I love that when I have a somewhat good idea for a comment, I look down and see there are 82 other brilliant ones before mine.
But mostly, I love the fact that you have become such an inspiration to me.
This is actually one of my favourite blog posts ever.
Not just by you, but by anyone.
<3333
my day IS a cuddled under the covers at 9 am. and you just made me inexplicably happy. i love when there are things to love and you take the time to write them down and appreciate them. i may just go do the same.
You're just so incredible, Hayley. This post is just, wow, I can't express in words how much I was able to relate to some of the things that you love. You're wonderful. :) I will gladly read your future novels one day, and pass them on to my future children.
-Katherine
Your writing is wonderful as always, but today it is especially beautiful.
Such a lovely list.
- I love having a self-declared snow day that allows me to get on blogger for the first time in a month and through that opportunity finding that there are about five fantastic HGH posts to read! =]
I love how this blog post made me smile, and think about the things that I Love. Thank you. :)
I love the crack a book makes the first time you open it. I love the fact that I have to fight to keep new paperback books open sometimes. I love the smell of any book, new or old and the feeling it gives me. It's like I have this little secret magic in my hands that no one else knows about.
my dad is the smartest man alive too!
and the thing about reading a line in a book that didn't previously resonate with you, or you hadn't noticed that it did, until just then...I do that all the time with song lyrics. I sometimes don't take the time to really listen to song lyrics and occasionally I will and wonder how I ever could have missed them. Because they're so spot on. Haha.
After reading this I have stayed up way too late painting my nails as perfectly as I possibly can. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
(No but seriously this was a good post and it made me smile, and now I have beautiful nails. Merci beaucoup, Mademoiselle Hoover.)
After reading this I have stayed up way too late painting my nails as perfectly as I possibly can. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
(No but seriously this was a good post and it made me smile, and now I have beautiful nails. Merci beaucoup, Mademoiselle Hoover.)
--I love that feeling when you read a line in a book that you realize you've always related to, but never consciously thought about before-- like all people are essentially the same, and somebody understands your weird self.
This was genuinely how I felt while reading this. :)
P.S. 3 MILES?! I've recently taken up running (partially INSPIRED -yes, inspired, deal with it- by you, and I get winded after one mile. So unmotivated... :(
I thought one thing when I finished reading this post:
"This girl is amazing"
I have notebooks filled with these types of entries too. It's nice to go back and read them and remember that life is good.
I loved how you said tea makes you feel like your in a Dicken's novel. I always imagine myself with Jane Austen.
I always look forward to your blogging.
I cannot even express through words how much I love this post <3
You astound me.
That was beautiful.
Hayley, that blog just made my day. Please: never, ever, stop writing.
Happy Valentine's.
This post, like others have mentioned, left me with a warm sense of .. life?
i often relate to so many of the things you write about and as strange as this may sound.. makes me feel like i am not completely insane for thinking/feeling the way that i do.. someone else observes the same things!
your amazing Hayley and i feel honoured that i am able to watch your videos and read your blog entries. you have blessed us all with your talent and for that i am eternally thankful!!
Thank you, sincerely, for writing, and for positively influencing my life with your blog.
I love reading blogs about people that are so happy, sincere, and real that they just make you happy. This was wonderfully fun to read, Hayley. You're awesome!
Although this was posted a month ago, I come back to your blog ever so often and read them. And even though you probably won't even read this comment, until many months later maybe, I feel the need to write this down.
Hayley, every time I read your blog or see a video of yours I do nothing but think, "Damn. That's who I want to be." This post is one of those when I can't help but think that we're similar and that there's nothing more I want to do than to meet you(and john green. :P) Your writing style puts me in awe, and your proud declarations make me laugh. Your love for the rainstorm like a bookstore makes me feel like I'm not as different as I thought. When I change my status to your quote, something sparks in me that makes me never want to change it. You're witty, smart, and make my day constantly. Write, please. There's always that one girl who finds hope that her future "career" may not just be a fantasy after all. So, thanks. Hope to meet you someday.
--
Emily
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