Five Things That Made Me Smile (December 2023 Edition)

A few days ago, I became Little Miss Anxious.

I started thinking about what I needed and wanted to do in the coming months.

I thought, and I thought, and then I overthought.

And then I felt myself go quiet.

The good quiet.

The kind where you remain calm, pause, and reflect - a massive win in my books.

So, to celebrate this massive win, I thought I’d take note of moments in December that did not induce anxiety.

I refer to them as the moments that made me smile.

Here are a few.

Watching the Nutcracker (Orašar) in Split

In late December, I visited Split and watched Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker.

This was my first visit to the Croatian National Theater Split and my first time watching the Nutcracker.

I imagined the first attendees sitting in this theater in 1893. I marveled at the architecture. I took in the sounds as the orchestra pit prepared for the ballet's start. It all made me smile.

Oh, and the price tag made me smile as well.

I paid 10 euros for my ticket.

Balcony seating for the Nutcracker. Split, Croatia

Watching the band Crvena Jabuka perform in Makarska

Crvena Jabuka is a band that formed in the 80s in Sarajevo.

I started listening to their music in the late 80s early 90s.

Their songs remind me of my youth.

A few days before Christmas, I attended their concert in Makarska.

While at the concert, I hummed the tunes my 25-year-old self would blast from the car stereo.

I recalled the joy or sadness (tuga) that often accompanied listening to their songs.

I wondered if the concertgoers were recalling their memories while singing along.

I saw the smiles on their faces, and I chose to believe that they were.

Crvena Jabuka

A Stranger Paid For My Coffee

One rainy Saturday morning, I stepped out to have a coffee.

As I was about to enter a neighbourhood cafe, an elderly man slowly approached the door. Very slowly.

I was walking in. He was walking out.

I had an umbrella. I noticed he did not.

I offered to walk him to the car, where his friend was waiting. He accepted.

During the short walk, we exchanged a few words.

He asked me: čija si? (whose are you - meaning who is my father/who is my family).

I told him I wasn’t from Makarska. I told him I was a Čuvalo.

He replied: Ah, I know of a famous Čuvalo. The boxer, George Čuvalo.

Who is George Čuvalo? For starters, check out the video

I exchanged a few more words with him and his friend; they thanked me, I smiled and they drove off.

I entered the cafe, sat down, and ordered my coffee.

A few minutes later, the driver returned and joined a group of men sitting beside me.

The driver called the waitress over and proceeded to pay for my coffee.

I smiled and said thank you.

He smiled back.

Another Stranger Paid For My Coffee

It was a cold morning in Makarska.

I stepped out to run errands.

Do you know what pairs nicely with errands? Finding a spot to enjoy a coffee.

I noticed one woman braving the cold, sitting on the patio of a cafe, and I thought to myself, fantastic, I found my spot!

I sat down, and we exchanged smiles, knowing that neither of us would go inside as the establishment allowed smoking indoors.

The waitress came over, took my order, and was surprised that we chose to sit in the cold.

Better the cold than the smoke, in my opinion ;)

At that moment, the owner walked out, saw us, and said he was impressed. And that the coffee was on him.

That was enough to make us smile.

My Christmas Wheat

I’ve been on this planet for 48 years, and there are still many firsts I have yet to experience.

Now, I can finally cross off ‘growing Christmas wheat.’

What is Christmas wheat?

You can find everything about Christmas wheat in this piece by Expat in Croatia.

Why did it make me smile?

I managed to grow the wheat using cotton instead of soil.

I had no idea that was even an option!

I felt like a kid working on a mind-blowing grade 5 science experiment.

I kid you not. That’s how I felt.

Every morning, I woke up excited to see the progress.

Every morning, after seeing the progress, I smiled.

I imagine that Little Miss Anxious will rear her pretty little head again.

I have no idea when. But she will.

And when she does, I’ll know to sit with whatever she throws at me and manage it to the best of my ability.

Then, I’ll reflect on moments like these.

Because that’s where I am reminded of the joy, the growth, the curiosity, the learning, and the love.

And that is enough to make me smile.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2024.