YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I love a long night of legendary sleep after several nights of bad sleep.
I love a hot mug of tea and a good book during a snowstorm.
I love it when my dog gives me kisses in the morning.
I love it when I come home from a hard day and my dog has the "wiggles" from being so happy to see me.
I love the first warm day after the winter.
I love being in "the zone" about ten minutes into a run.
I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing something really difficult.
I love getting As.
I love driving with the windows down on a warm day and blasting Lady Gaga.
I love the excitement on my dog's face when I pick up a snowball and he just knows I'm going to throw it so he can go try to catch it.
I love how I smell after a nice, hot shower.
I love it when my husband genuinely laughs.
I love making a new friend that I can speak completely candidly with right from the get-go.
I love a beer in the shower after a race.
I love making snow angels.
I love pulling into the driveway after a stressful drive in the snow.
I love the day after we turn the clocks ahead.
I love being able to sit down and write an entire paper.
I love the look on a student's face when what I'm trying to teach them clicks.
I love the look on a student's face when I've really helped them with their writing and they feel confident about work they're about to turn in.
I love that I have friends that know that I listen to them without judgment.
I love it when I finish a knitting project.
I love it when I get to give away said knitting project, and the recipient loves it.
I love receiving a gift that someone has made for me.
I love warm brownies and ice cream.
I love the first cut into a fresh-baked, homemade apple pie.
I love that one of my cats cuddles up on my chest and head-butts me until I go to sleep.
I love it when my dog farts and is surprised by it.
I love the rush that I get from performing, and how it last all night.
I love collaborating with a piano player - it's one of the most intimate partnerships a musician can have.
I love the sense of satisfaction that my students get from performing.

(again, I know I have many more...I'll add as I remember them!)

I had a feeling your loves list would be awesome since your fears list was so great... and I was totally right.

Are you a writing teacher? I worked at my university's writing center and it made me seriously consider teaching.

Thanks!

I actually teach on a couple of different levels right now, and it's kind of amazing...I have been a flute teacher for 10 years (my undergraduate degree is in music), and I am in grad school to become a mental health counselor and eventual music therapist who specializes in trauma. But my graduate assistantship is actually at my school's writing center, which I never expected to get, but I absolutely have loved it since day one (and it allows me to consistently practice my counseling skills, so that's all kind of awesome!)

What a sampler mix of some sweet loves! I liked reading this.