Feelings and Preferences

My name is David and I want to tell you about myself. I am thirty-five years old and I work as a teacher at a secondary school. I teach history, which I love because every lesson is like telling a story. I live in a small apartment in the city with my cat, Luna. I am not married but I have a girlfriend called Elena. She lives on the other side of the city. We see each other three or four times a week. I am generally a happy person, but like everyone, I have good days and bad days. Today I want to think about what makes me happy, what I prefer, and what I do not like. I think it is important to know yourself well. When you understand your own feelings and preferences, you can make better decisions about your life.

Let me start with what I like. I like my job very much. I feel excited when I prepare a new lesson and I feel proud when my students understand something difficult. I like reading books, especially historical novels and biographies. I prefer reading paper books to reading on a screen. There is something special about holding a real book and turning the pages. I like cooking at home. I prefer cooking to eating in restaurants because I can control what goes into my food. I like fresh vegetables and I prefer organic food when I can afford it. I do not eat meat. I became vegetarian five years ago and I feel healthier because of it. I also like walking. I prefer walking to taking the bus when the weather is good. It helps me think and it is good exercise.

I have strong preferences about my daily routine. I am definitely a morning person. I prefer waking up early and having a slow, quiet morning. I get up at six, even on weekends. I drink coffee first thing. I like my coffee black, without milk or sugar. I prefer tea in the evening because coffee keeps me awake. I take a shower in the morning because it helps me feel alert. I prefer cold weather to hot weather. I feel uncomfortable when it is too hot. I do not like humid days. I prefer autumn and spring because the temperature is mild and pleasant. I also prefer quiet environments. I do not like loud music or noisy restaurants. I feel stressed when there is too much noise around me. I prefer soft music or silence when I am working or reading.

Now let me tell you about things I do not like. I do not like being late. It makes me feel nervous and stressed. I always arrive ten minutes early for everything. I do not like crowded places. Shopping centres on Saturday afternoons make me feel uncomfortable. I prefer to shop online or go to small, quiet shops. I do not like watching television very much. I think most programmes are boring. I prefer listening to podcasts or watching documentaries. I do not like spicy food. It makes my stomach hurt. I prefer mild flavours. I also do not like driving. I feel anxious in heavy traffic. I prefer using public transport or cycling. Elena thinks I am strange because I do not have a car, but I tell her I do not need one in the city.

Elena and I have different preferences, which is interesting. She is a night owl. She prefers staying up late and sleeping in. She likes loud music and going to concerts. She prefers hot weather and dreams of living somewhere tropical. She loves spicy food and puts chilli on everything. She prefers eating out to cooking at home. She likes driving and has a red car that she is very proud of. You might think we are too different, but actually our differences make our relationship interesting. We introduce each other to new things. She took me to a concert last month and I actually enjoyed it. I cooked her a mild curry last week and she said it was delicious, even without extra chilli. We compromise and we respect each other's preferences.

How do I feel today? I feel good. I feel relaxed because it is Sunday and I do not have to work. I feel happy because the sun is shining and I had a good sleep last night. I feel a little hungry because I have not had lunch yet. I do not feel stressed or worried about anything. Sometimes during the week I feel tired after a long day of teaching. Sometimes I feel frustrated when my students do not listen. Sometimes I feel sad when I think about my father, who died two years ago. But today, I feel peaceful. Luna is sleeping on my lap and I am reading a good book. The apartment is quiet. I have a cup of tea on the table beside me. These simple moments are when I feel most content.

I think about what I want for the future. I want to travel more. I have not been abroad for two years because of work and money. I want to visit Japan because I am fascinated by the history and culture. I want to learn to play the piano. I started lessons last year but I stopped because I was too busy. I want to start again in September. I want to write a book one day. I have so many stories in my head from my history research. I think I could write a historical novel. Elena tells me I should do it. She says, "You are a great storyteller. Your students love your lessons because you make history come alive." Maybe she is right. Maybe I should start writing this summer.

Elena calls me at two o'clock. She asks, "How are you feeling today?" I tell her I feel relaxed and happy. She says, "Good. Do you want to do something this afternoon? Or do you prefer to stay home?" I think about it. Part of me wants to stay on the sofa with my book and my cat. But another part of me wants to see Elena. I say, "What do you have in mind?" She says, "I was thinking we could go for a walk in the park and then have dinner at that new vegetarian restaurant. I know you prefer cooking at home, but I heard this place is really good." I say, "That sounds nice. I would like that." She says, "Great! I will pick you up at four." I say, "See you then." I smile. She knows me well.

I get ready to go out. I put on comfortable clothes and my walking shoes. I feed Luna and give her fresh water. She looks at me with her big green eyes as if to say, "Where are you going?" I stroke her head and say, "I will be back later, little one." At four o'clock, Elena arrives. She is wearing a yellow dress and she looks beautiful. She says, "Ready?" I say, "Ready." We drive to the park. It is a large park with a lake, gardens, and woodland paths. We walk hand in hand along the path beside the lake. The afternoon sun is warm and golden. Ducks are swimming on the water and children are playing on the grass. Elena tells me about her week. She works as a graphic designer and she has been working on a big project.

After our walk, we go to the vegetarian restaurant. It is small and cosy with wooden tables and plants everywhere. The menu looks amazing. I order mushroom risotto and Elena orders a Thai curry. We share a bottle of sparkling water. The food arrives and it is delicious. Elena says, "See? Eating out can be good too!" I laugh and say, "You are right. This is excellent. I am glad you suggested it." We talk about our plans for the week ahead. She asks me how I feel about the new school term starting soon. I say, "I feel excited but also a little nervous. I have new students this year." She takes my hand across the table and says, "You are a wonderful teacher. They are lucky to have you." I feel grateful to have someone who believes in me. It is a perfect Sunday evening.