Neil Pasricha is a half-glass-full kinda guy. He’s experienced some pretty crappy moments in the past few years, including a divorce, the suicide of a friend and experience loneliness when he moved to a new place. But even though all of that, he’s managed to not be a Debbie Downer and see the good in life as evident in his blog, 1000 Awesome Things. Since June 2008 he’s been counting down the awesome and random things that happen to us in our everyday lives.
Some of Pasricha’s awesome things:
- #990 – Picking up a q and a u at the same time in Scrabble – as a newly addicted Words With Friends player, I can appreciate a good letter picking, considering I’m currently getting my butt kicked in WWF thanks to my sister, cousin, college dormmate and dodgeball friend.
- #258 – Saying thanks – I get pretty peeved when I’m driving and let a person in front of me and they neglect to do “the wave” as a way of saying “Hey, thanks for not being a jerk and letting me in!” so I’m a big fan of #258.
- #296 – Making a baby laugh – In the words of Pasricha, this is awesome because “you know they’re not faking it.” I’ve been hanging with my cousin’s 5-month-old daughter recently and can make her laugh just by making silly noises. Getting her to laugh basically takes me doing anything that makes me look like an idiot, but I don’t care because that gummy smile and belly laugh is awesome.
Here’s what I would put on my list of awesome things:
- When your horoscope actually relates to things going on in your life
- Winning a dodgeball game in dominating fashion
- Hearing a song you haven’t heard in a long time and still knowing all of the words
- Getting a letter via-snail mail, not e-mail
- Those times in your life when you realize life really is good
What would be on your list of awesome things?
guest
AHH, I have that book! It’s… AWESOME!
sunflower / 392 posts
Finding money in the pockets of jeans I just washed… Driving somewhere and getting only green lights… Miraculously not hitting stop-and-go traffic during rush hour… Seeing questions that I actually prepared for on my exams.
guest
Rain and sunshine at the same time.
Finding the first daisy of the season. (:
Getting my free coffee after I buy 10 at my local coffee shop.
Waking up really cold and snuggling back under the covers.
A flip flop tan after being outside all day.
Listening to my boyfriend play guitar.
I could go on and on…
AND I want that book!
sunflower / 282 posts
omg, this sounds like a wonderful book!!
…must have.
rose / 853 posts
I agree with all of those.
A few of mine: Slow falling snow when the air is JUST cold enough so it’s still kind of warm. Hearing a song on the radio that directly applies to my situation. Getting a text from Kurt just when I was thinking about him. The smell of spring blossoms. A non-windy day in my town.
guest
Penguin giggles.
dahlia / 2012 posts
Drawing in a new sketchbook.
Waking up at the same time every day without an alarm.
Trying new a new food and discovering it’s one of my favorites. (Red bean ice cream was the most recent example.)
Trees budding in spring.
Dipping a butter knife into a fresh jar of peanut butter.
When my sister calls me almost every weekday after she gets out of work.
Using stuffed animals like puppets and pretending they’re real “people” with my boyfriend.
Finding a combination of clothes to make an outfit I’ve never worn before.
Whenever someone anticipates my needs.
Sweet potato tempura sushi.
Inside jokes and internet memes.
A good book that I hate to put down.
Clearly seeing the Milky Way at night.
Having an occasion arise where I can share an obscure or interesting fact from my vast reserve of useless knowledge.
guest
Yay for laughing babies
I can’t think of anything except having hot food on my plate after a bad day and knowing there’s peace ahead, for a little while. Nothing more specific, though!
sunflower / 405 posts
I don’t think horoscope should be added to anybody’s list. I mean, it’s almost like you’re not in control with your life. And it’s like spoiling a good movie
sunflower / 405 posts
Oh yeah, the number one thing in my awesome list would be the ability to have imagination. A place to escape when you can’t run.
daisy / 639 posts
This whole post made me happy itself! Numbers 3 and 5 of your list made me smile
Staying up all night and watching the sun rise through your window.
When my cat chooses me to lay down with and fall asleep on (as it’s usually someone else in my family he chooses).
And a ton of other little things I won’t even bother to list!
tulip / 11 posts
Finding a parking spot right outside my house…..waking up and feeling great, not tired at all…..having a night off and my favorite movie happens to be on tv……walking in my house and smelling fresh flowers….
guest
i do this all the time but with a bandeau over my bra…i think it looks cute on the right person and in the right enviorment
hydrangea / 55 posts
@pikaaa - glad some of my things made you smile!
ranunculus / 3285 posts
I read this book and loved it