The Things That Have Stuck

We are a culture that celebrates anniversaries. We love them.

I say we, because it’s we, but it’s also me.

I love anniversaries.

I celebrate the anniversary of my first half marathon (it was LIFE CHANGING!), the opening of Viva Wellness, the day I became a New York City resident – and oh yeah, my wedding. Acknowledging something that’s stood the test of time gives you a lot of those warm fuzzy feelings. There’s value in keeping something around for a while. It makes it special, and it should be celebrated.

But do you celebrate the little things that stick around?

Of course the anniversaries (and raceaversaries!) should be celebrated, but how often do you acknowledge the smaller things that have made it through the years?

Recently, I had to get a new laptop. Because part of me still lives in 2005, I use an iPod Nano for all of my music and podcasts. I have reasons!

My 2005 iPod Nano self isn’t compatible with my 2017 MacBook Air self, and therefore, transferring all my music to my new computer took an embarrassingly long time. Fine, it was four hours. Happy now?! FOUR. HOURS. I understand this isn’t logical.

In the midst of this transition from hell, I also had to re-create all of my playlists.

While I’m doing this, I realized how many songs I still had from high school. Not just because I don’t delete music (even though this is true), but because I still listen to them on a regular basis. That means there are songs on my iPod that have been in my life for half of my life. Half of my life! There are very few things that I can say have been around for that long (and no, my iPod is NOT one of them so don’t even try it!). That’s pretty crazy, right?

Throughout break ups, grad school, new jobs, starting a business, getting married, becoming a runner, gaining friends, losing friends and everything else I could possibly think of that’s happened to me over the last 16 years – there are songs that have been there with me through it all.

Amazingly enough, I’m not even talking my Billy Joel. If you know me at all, you’ll know that Billy has been my friend and writer of the soundtrack to my life. Billy Joel is legendary and stays forever. I’m talking these random Good Charlotte and New Found Glory songs that never in a million years would I think I’d still enjoy as a grown ass woman. They’re filled with memories that remind me of how far I’ve come in life, and you know what, I still love me some good pop punk.

So now I have a playlist called “Reminiscing” where I can listen to all of these gems at once.

Why? They make me happy. I still like the songs. And because in a world in which nothing is permanent and anything can be taken away from us in an instant (I know, frightening thought), it’s really important to honor and respect the things that have stuck around with us – even if they’re small.

Whether is a super comfortable sweatshirt you just won’t throw away or a song that you’ll never stop listening to, take some time and show some love to what’s been with you forever. Those things are small, but they make up your life and who you are today. So much changes, so much fades away, and it’s really easy to get stuck on what you’ve lost or outgrown.

Today, focus on and love what’s still there for you.