79 Little Things I Keep Living For

I am no stranger to suicidal ideation. I have battled these dark and difficult thoughts since middle school. Even though I have fought hard to stay alive, sometimes I just feel like throwing the towel in would be far easier than continuing to push forward. Thanks to lots of work in therapy over the years, I’ve (mostly) learned how to reframe my suicidal thoughts and find ways to see the silver linings in those darker days.

One of the ways I do this is by focusing on all of the little things I enjoy most in life. Some of these may sound cheesy or even mundane, but the truth is that these little things are exactly what I appreciate most in life. This makes them the perfect motivation to keep living.

79 Little Things I Keep Living For

1. The sound of my cat purring as she sits in my lap.
2. Sweet kisses from my partner as we say “hello” or “goodbye.”
3. The smell of freshly brewed coffee.
4. Hugs from one of my children.
5. Weekend trips to new cities.
6. Playing my flute with local community groups.
7. Hilarious TikTok videos.
8. Cheetos Popcorn.
9. Petting dogs.
10. Graphic t-shirts.
11. The feel of warm sunlight on my skin.
12. Watching “Grey’s Anatomy.”
13. Dinner dates with my friends.
14. The feeling of sand rushing out from under my feet as I stand on the beach.
15. Playing board games with my family.
16. Swimming
17. Seeing capybaras at the zoo.
18. Inside jokes with my partner.
19. Crazy socks.
20. Cookouts at my parents’ house.
21. Massages.
22. Listening to my favorite music.
23. Ice cream.
24. The sound of birds chirping outside my window.
25. Mad Libs.
26. The way my partner always dresses up for date nights.
27. The smell of freshly cut grass.
28. Fuzzy blankets.
29. Picnic lunches.
30. Sitting on my patio with a cold beverage.
31. Cat cafes.
32. Watching the sunset.
33. Connecting with people who understand me.
34. Karaoke nights at my local dive bar.
35. Playing in the snow.
36. Holding a newborn baby.
37. Wearing beanies.
38. Late-night cuddles with my partner.
39. Mini golf.
40. Browsing through thrift stores.
41. Listening to my children laugh.
42. Cards Against Humanity.
43. Deviled eggs.
44. Wine time with my mother-in-law.
45. Dancing around in the kitchen.
46. Watching “Big Mouth.”
47. Shopping at Torrid.
48. Camping trips.
49. Listening to my children read books to me.
50. Visiting planetariums.
51. The smell when you open a new book.
52. Playing laser tag.
53. Making crafts with my mother.
54. Going to concerts.
55. The feel of a cool, light breeze on a hot day.
56. Receiving snail mail that isn’t a bill.
57. Sitting in my kids’ bedroom as they fall asleep.
58. Lazy weekend mornings.
59. Kayaking
60. Family movie nights.
61. Christmas lights.
62. Hot showers.
63. Listening to my children practice musical instruments.
64. Comfy sweaters.
65. The smell of my partner’s shampoo.
66. Homemade chicken tenders.
67. Pour painting with my children.
68. Browsing through the shelves at the used book store.
69. Sending random Snapchats to one of my best friends.
70. Going to arcades.
71. Turning random grocery items from Aldi into a meal.
72. Solving the daily Wordle.
73. Productive therapy sessions
74. Seeing my friends successful and happy.
75. Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Chips
76. That feeling when you clock out of work at the end of a long week.
77. Afternoon naps.
78. Yoga.
79. Hearing the words “I love you” from someone.

As you can see, I have a lot to live for and a lot of people I love. Although not all of these little things may matter to you, my hope is that this list can help you recognize your own “little things” to keep living for. Because even on those darkest days, you are important—we need you here.