26 things you didn't know I loved.

1). The Pythagorean Theorem. Specifically, Euclid's proof of it. I love things like functions and equations and formulas that consistently make sense.
2). My library card that’s broken in half because it’s so old and I use it so much.
3). My feet. I like that my middle toe isn’t longer than my big toe, and I’ve decided that I don’t mind the scar on my right foot anymore.
4). MLA (Modern Language Association). I love citing things and using correct punctuation and knowing how to do something exactly right.
5). Watching skateboarding and BMX. It’s literally one of my favorite things to do.
6). People that will argue with me. Because I’m not right all the time. But I always have an opinion, and reasons for it. I think you should have an opinion and reasons, too, and even if they’re not mine, I want to listen to you. So I would rather be with someone who tests my opinions and logic than someone who assumes I’m right.
7). Foosball. Actually, a lot of you probably know that already, but I’m addicted.
8). Long van rides with people I want to get to know better. Which is everybody. I love asking questions and finding out things I didn’t know about people I thought I knew well.
9). Typing. When I was in elementary and middle school I had to do this typing practice thing ever day. I hated it, but I got good at it. Now I can type while reading.
10). Campfire smoke. Some of my favorite childhood memories have the smell of campfire smoke attached to them, so whenever I smell it, I smile.
11). Movies that have realistic over happy endings. I would rather end a movie feeling like I learned something about life than full of an emotional high.
12). Dictionaries.
13). Thesauruses.
14). Metaphors. My current favorite is about something a couple told a group of my friends an I when they were teaching us how to waltz.
They said that when a couple is dancing the dance as it was meant to be danced, the audience will always be watching the woman. This is deliberate on the man’s part.
He knows that his role in the dance is to lead, and to show off the lady. He does this by leading firmly but gently, in everything he does he has her in mind, he doesn’t go anywhere without her consenting to go with him.
The lady gets the attention, yes, but she also has the difficult task of following. If she tries to jump ahead, the dance gets thrown off rhythm. If she lags behind to make sure he’s doing the right thing, the dance gets thrown off rhythm.
The only way for the dance to look beautiful is for her to trust that he’s going to take care of her and that he knows what he’s doing. It will not work any other way.
If the dance is going to look beautiful, she has to trust his strength and he has to trust that he’s strong enough. He has to depend on her to follow him.
And maybe it’s just me, but I think that’s lovely. Whether you’re talking about man/woman friendships, dating, marriage, the relationship between God and the church, or if you just want to leave it at two people dancing together, it’s lovely.
15). Switching things up. I don’t like to be predictable.
16). Sand. I think I’ve said this before, but the first time I went to the coast when I was 4 or something, I don’t remember ever seeing the ocean. All I remember is sand. Well, that and making a pyramid with my cousins and me being the tiny blonde one on top.
17). Used books. My favorites are the ones that someone has already marked up and underlined things in.
18). When people get excited that my name is spelled with a Z.
19). Old kitchens. I think this stems back to my grandparent’s old house, because it had formica countertops and bar stools and vintage pebble flooring, and I remember the kitchen almost never being empty because that’s where the family would gather.
20). Bass players. They’re incredibly under appreciated.
21). Writing letters. Short ones, long ones, ones written on 20 pieces of different sized paper, ones that only say “hi.”
22). Stained glass.
23). Little kid’s jokes.
24). Old British man’s jokes.
25). Falling asleep reading.
26). Adding something else onto a list so it isn’t a boring 25 things long.

And then there’s the list of things most people already know I like. Windows, Christmas lights, Tupperware, writing, the color blue, sweaters, miniature things, clean socks, drinking coffee in a cup with no lid, beards, babies, people watching, etc.