Advice For Falling In Love With Life
Get the tattoo, eat alone, be (feel) hot, look up and praise the moon.
Published
Tips From The Top is a monthly column that offers tips and tricks from all-around wonderful people.
On July 3rd 2021, I submitted my first article to The Drunken Canal (RIP). It was about the death of prairie core and new beginnings. Just six months before that, I moved to New York and embarked upon a new beginning of my own. Not to get too sappy, but that was when the glimmer kicked in: The sneaky feeling of being DOWN with life hit me.
If you’ve ever caught yourself skipping down Orchard with vegan soft serve in hand, or singing aloud to “You Get What You Give” by The New Radicals while riding the train, or waking up in the mood to dance it out to Barry Manilow, then you might be in love with life, too. As an ode to that special aforementioned newspaper and the goodness it leaves behind, and as a celebration of new beginnings, I’ve asked a handful of friends to share their hot tips on falling truly, madly, deeply—I’m talking silly, slap-happy stuff—in love with life. As it turns out, there’s more than one way to go about it.
“Get the tattoos, don’t overthink it, work with friends who are artists to do it and don’t be afraid to try something your friends aren’t. But don’t get a tattoo based on your employer. Also, go to therapy.”
“I think one key to falling in love with life is going out to eat alone. And being hot. Not looking hot, feeling hot. It’s a state of mind that requires a bit of delusion.”
“What truly brings me joy in life is being able to dance to a Beyonce song and pretend to be one of her backup dancers in a music video. Additionally, spreading the love of my Bibingka - a Filipino coconut rice cake. I enjoy people’s reactions to something they haven’t had before. It’s a delight!"
“One free way I’ve fallen in love with my life is by making a habit of looking up. It’s here, in this ambivalent zone, that I am consistently and delightfully overwhelmed by whatever it is that I’m seeing. Sometimes the leaves are yellow or the sky is so blue it hurts. Sometimes two people kissing or hugging or laughing or maybe sitting comfortably in silence. Sometimes I look up and see a toddler sitting on some adult’s shoulders as they walk past and I remember when I once sat that tall. It’s an exercise in forcing myself back into the present moment, back from doomscrolling or some worry I latched onto that only exists in the past or future.”
“Realize everyone is winging it. Call your mom every day. Pick an airline at the start of the year and stick with it, god’s greatest gift is a frequent flyer program.”
“Mirror work. It’s about self love and self validation. You need a mirror and yourself. In all your glory. You, wearing something that makes you feel like the goddess you are - something cute, something sexy, something warm and fuzzy. Or not much at all. Skin is very in.”
“Make a habit of sending handwritten letters in the mail to your friends for no particular reason at all. Eat prunes - they’re yummy and good for digestion. Make out with people (or one person) as much as your schedule permits.”
“A fresh pack of cigarettes and some print magazines. Life is mundane. Take a smoke break and gag over top models while flipping through the latest zine. Check up on what Julia Fox is doing - she’s either wearing something iconic, having a quotable moment, or posting intellectually stimulating tiktoks about public transit.”
“To Fall In Love With Life: GRATITUDE LIST EVERYDAY ! PRAISE THE SUN! PRAISE THE MOON! HAIL APHRODITE! HAIL THE WATER ! BE KIND TO THE ELVES OF THE EARTH! FEED THE BIRDS! FORGIVE EVERYONE NOW! CHOOSE LOVE! BE AWARE OF WHAT INFORMATION YOU’RE ABSORBING! RESOCIALIZE YOURSELF! REPARENT YOURSELF! FIND A HIGHER POWER! SURRENDER! FEEL EMOTION! LET GO! CARE LESS! BREATHE! MAKE MISTAKES...THERE ARE NONE! REPEAT!”