Sometimes it feels like expectations others have of me rise faster than my ability to meet them, and I start to feel inwardly tense.  Years ago it would take a couple of weeks of it building up and getting pretty intense before I’d do something about it, but I’ve fortunately learned to recognize this feeling early on.  So tonight I was thinking about how to appropriately rebalance myself, when I read something online – a personalized version of the song from the classic movie A Sound of Music, ‘My Favorite Things’.  Do you know the song?

The song has a catchy and upbeat tune, and I’ve always liked it.  I was inspired to write up my own version to reflect some of my favorite things, and I found myself smiling and the tension melting away within about five minutes as I scratched out my verses. I did this while listening with the kids to our evening readaloud (we got the book on cassette this time to give my voice a rest and we all listen together) so it’s not Roger and Hammerstein but that’s okay!

Because it made me smile, I thought I’d share it with you. If you know the song that I’m referring to you can imagine the words below set to music.

Avivah’s Favorite Things

• Sweet morning hugs surrounded by littles
• Snuggles and kisses and lots of giggles
• Playing and talking and tying heart strings
• These are a few of my favorite things.

• Jumping in leaves and playing in snow
• Warming up with cups of hot cocoa
• Watching the olders take care of siblings
• These are a few of my favorite things.

• Going on trips and learning together
• Cooking and planting and watching the weather
• Thanking Hashem for my precious blessings
• These are a few of my favorite things.

• Sleeping in tents and hiking on trails
• Building a patio and banging in nails
• Around campfires and on Shabbos we sing
• These are a few of my favorite things.

• Long conversations with time to listen
• A beautiful family that makes my eyes glisten
• All of the love and the closeness it brings
• These are a few of my favorite things.

Refrain:

• When messes pile high
• And I feel stress rise
• And I’m feeling sad
• I simply remember my favorite things
• And then I don’t feel so bad!

If you feel inspired to create a stanza or two of your own, I would LOVE it if you shared it below!

Avivah