A Quiet Inventory: Things I Love But Rarely Say.

There’s a softer side of me that doesn’t always speak up. Not because she’s ashamed, just because she’s tender. She doesn’t like crowds. She doesn’t like being misunderstood. She prefers the quiet joy of being known without needing to explain.

So, here’s her list. Not exhaustive. Not loud. Just true.

• The way warm socks feel right after a shower

• The smell of old books and new notebooks

• The thrill of finding the perfect word for a feeling I thought was indescribable

• The way my husband’s voice sounds when he’s tired

• The first sip of coffee when it feels like I’m the only one in the world awake

• The comfort of handwritten things (notes, prayers, reminders)

• The way the first crisp air feels in the fall

• The way I catch my husband looking at me when I’m engulfed in a task

• The sound of my children laughing

• The first sleep after washing bedding

• The feeling of fuzzy blankets (I have too many)

• The smiles I can feel on my husband's mouth when we kiss

• The feeling of receiving unasked-for assurance

• The way my heart feels watching the girl get the guy in the movies

I don’t say these things often. But they matter. They remind me who I am when I’m not performing, fixing, or proving. And maybe that’s enough to get through every day. At least for now.