special agent dale cooper, the greatest philosopher of our time

i've been rewatching Twin Peaks lately with a friend who has never seen it before. Which is very fun! twin peaks is my favorite show and i very much enjoy david lynch's brand of strange. agent cooper, one of the main characters, is full of odd little cooper-isms and strikingly philosophical moments, but my favorite and most popular of his -isms is this quote:

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Everyday, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the Men's store. A catnap in your office chair. Or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."

Most days, i find myself a rather serious individual. I spend a lot of time ruminating about dark or stressful things, usually not purposefully. it's just in my nature. as such, the older i get the harder i try to be less intense and to slow down. Cooper's bit of advice to Sheriff Truman has done absolute wonders for me, when i remember to follow it.

it's less about material things and more about taking a moment to care for yourself.

self care is... difficult to say the least. it takes a lot of effort. and honestly, a nice cup of coffee has completely turned around my day more than once.

ironically, on a less serious note, another thing i recommend stealing from agent cooper is his absolute awe for nature. he spends most of the first episode gushing with child-like wonder about the town's Douglas Firs, snowshoe rabbits, and the ducks on the lake. for me it started as a joke, pointing at some grackles and in the parking lot and sighing wistfully, but taking a genuine delight in the mundane is good for the soul. try it.

anyways, im finished waxing poetic about a fictional man. enjoy your evening