I don’t spend a lot of time online.
OK, so that’s not entirely true – I’ve been known to waste an afternoon or two Facebook stalking. But for the most part, I’m pretty Internet illiterate.
I don’t spend hours on YouTube, I’m not what you’d call a gamer and I definitely don’t have anything interesting enough to say to write a blog.
But if I did have a blog, I would want it to be just like 1,000 Awesome Things.
This is one website I can (and do) spend hours surfing.
Started by a guy named Neil Pasricha in June 2008, www.1000awesomethings.com is updated every weekday with something that is, well, awesome.
Some are funny, like #662, Fixing your wedgie when no one’s looking. Some are serious, like #829, Smiling and thinking of good friends who are gone. But some are just things we take for granted, like #779, Getting into a bed with clean sheets after shaving your legs.
As you all are reading this, Pasricha will be adding Awesome Thing #515 to his list.
Although he started with #1,000, the awesome things don’t count down in order. They are just a randomly awesome mix of cool things we sometimes don’t think about.
So I was inspired to write my own list of awesome things, although I limited myself to just five.
#5 When a boy opens the car door for you
Maybe it’s a throwback to days gone by, but I love feeling like someone has gone out of his way just for me.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for women power and girls being able to do things without the help of a man.
But nothing makes me feel more girly than walking up to a car and not having to do a thing before slipping inside and feeling the door shut behind you.
Besides, having someone do something you could easily do yourself is always awesome.
#4 Going barefoot
Go ahead, kick off those shoes and try to tell me it doesn’t feel awesome.
#3 Cuddling
To the disgust of many of my co-workers, I really dislike sleeping alone.
But there’s nothing better than curling up with someone and falling asleep.
I’m not even limiting myself to just cuddling with boys, either.
My roommate and I found a mouse in our apartment this semester, and there was no way I was sleeping by myself – what if the mouse showed up?
Sleeping alone is just way less awesome than turning to someone in the middle of the night and asking, “Did you hear that?”
#2 When a boring class gets out early
Teachers are notorious for trying to squeeze every possible second out of their allotted class times.
“Class gets over at 11:50 and it’s 11:49? Oh, I totally have time to start a whole new chapter.”
So when a 50 minute class gets out 15 minutes early, it’s the equivalent of Christmas coming in June.
The excitement is doubled when class is super boring – i.e. Renaissance Literature, 19th Century Comparative Politics and Elements of Microeconomics.
Class is over already? Awesome.
#1 Winning a game against a really competitive friend
This one is definitely placed at No. 1 on purpose, because it is the most awesome thing I can think of.
I pride myself on being an extremely competitive person, however, it’s not always good for my friendships.
Don’t challenge me to a board game, athletic event or test of any sort unless you expect to lose – or are prepared to deal with me if you win.
So when I’m competing for something, no matter how insignificant, I go all out.
The only real advice my mom gave me before I came to college still rings true: “Jess, if you want to have friends next year then you probably shouldn’t play intramural sports.”
Jessica Lampe is a senior journalism major from Belleville. She is the Scout news editor.
Direct comments, questions and other responses to jlampe@mail.bradley.edu.
