I’ve had a series of posts here for a while under the banner of “Friday Favorites” or the even more generic “favorite things.” These curated lists have featured my favorite of-the-moment foods, clothing, books and movies.
I also tried out an abridged version of this list-style post that homes in on what I’m currently reading, eating and watching.
But lately, I’ve fallen in love with The New York Times’ long-running column, “My Ten,” where they profile celebrities through the lens of the star’s top ten favorite cultural essentials of the moment.
“Cultural essentials” is such a fun way to sum up one’s current obsessions, and can include anything from restaurants to books, TV shows, music and causes. A quick Google tells me that cultural essentials are “the core elements that make up a society’s shared way of life. They include symbols, language, norms, values and physical artifacts. These components shape how people communicate, behave and understand the world around them.”
Obviously, I’m not a celebrity, but I’m still going to give this a try. Without further ado, here are my current ten cultural essentials, aka obsessions, aka things I love.
1. Fancy sweet treats. No list of my favorite things would be complete without something in this category. I love candy, but not all candy. Specifically, I am obsessed with obscure international gummies that satisfy a craving that began during childhood trips to England, where my brother and I delighted in visiting “newsagents” (aka convenience stores) to spend our pocket money on pick-and-mix gummy candies. Old habits die hard, I guess. The delightful Maud Borup gummy charcuterie selection pictured above came from Target and nicely scratched this itch.
2. Soft, slow mornings.
3. Being in love with love.
4. Colorful pens, paper and stickers.
5. Food from warm climates.
6. Arts and crafts with friends.
7. Gym, then pool.
8. Quality time with my aging parents.
9. Cruises with my daughter.
10. A welcoming and inclusive church community.
