Writing was challenging for my son. And deciding what to write was made even more difficult when the teacher provided the prompt: “What is your favorite. . . .?” She thought she was providing an easy writing prompt, but my son was stymied. How could he decide which was his very most favorite thing? And while he considered this problem, nothing got written down. I wished his teacher would rephrase her prompt: “What is a favorite. . . ?” The changing of one word would change the whole experience. He would no longer have to decide which was the most favorite but could concentrate on picking one thing to write about.
I encounter the same types of questions: What is your favorite color? What is your favorite holiday? What is your favorite song? There are an infinite number of favorite things to identify. “It is a puzzlement.” While I enjoy many things, if I am expected to identify the favorite something, it causes me to pause. My favorite whatever today may not be my favorite tomorrow. I think of Maria von Trapp and her song that proclaims: “These are a few of my favorite things.” She had the right idea—a person can have many favorite things.
These are a few of my favorite things in no particular order:
- Storytelling (in schools, libraries, festivals, on Zoom—wherever there is a listener)
- Writing
- Reading
- Friends (being together, sharing ideas and food, texting)
- Family (I have seven favorite children)
- Watercolor painting
- Sewing (masks, American Girl doll clothes, bags, clothes for myself)
- Walking (in all seasons)
- Wind (on my face as I walk—unless it is a cold wind)
- Quiet moments
- FamilySearch (a website where I can record memories of my ancestors)
- Hot chocolate (on a cold morning or before I go to bed)
Identifying my favorite things is a positive affirmation and warms my heart. I smile when I contemplate them. They can be big or small. I acknowledge them and express gratitude for them. I like the process of Identifying my favorite things. It helps me to see the things I enjoy rather than the things I don’t like.