In a world full of misfortune and hate, it is sometimes difficult to keep a positive attitude. It seems that every morning there is a new disaster on the news, which makes it easy to believe that this world is a dangerous and dismal place to live. When our heads are constantly filled with such abhorrence, we begin to forget about the beauty and love this world consists of. The bad often seems to overshadow the good in this culture, and it is a shame to see so many people lose sight of the things that make life worth living. To an extent, it is healthy to be aware of the tragedies of the world, but to dwell on these events is a dangerous road to go down. Instead, take note of these events and learn from them. Then, reframe. Appreciate the smaller moments that are often overlooked. This earth is an exquisite place, if only we open our eyes and look beyond the media. One way to be more conscious of the good in the world is to make a list of the things that make you happy. When you sit down and think about everything worth smiling about, you’ll be amazed at how simple the root of happiness can be.
Here are 100 random things that never fail to make me smile:
- Long phone calls
- Waking up early to see the sunrise
- Finding a really good book
- Getting a letter in the mail
- Oversized sweatshirts
- Trees that are fun to sit on
- When someone says “This made me think of you.”
- Jumping on trampolines
- The smell of freshly cut grass
- Wearing a new outfit
- Seeing an old friend that you haven’t seen in a while
- Tire swings
- The feeling of butterflies in your stomach
- Long, hot showers
- Helping others in need
- Eating watermelon by the pool
- Light shining through trees
- Pens that have a lot of ink & glide
- Singing in the shower
- A great cup of coffee
- Laughing with your mom
- Wearing warm clothes right out of the dryer
- Forehead kisses
- Jumping in a pile of leaves
- Birds chirping
- Feeling sand in your toes
- Colorful flowers
- Being with someone you love
- Running through sprinklers
- Braids in your hair
- Opening up to someone
- All-you-can-eat buffets
- Taking a bubble bath
- Being brave enough to do the right thing
- Finishing a puzzle
- Late night drives with no destination
- Lemonade stands
- A baby holding your fingers
- Waking up to fresh snow
- The excitement of traveling somewhere new
- Popping bubble wrap
- Sonic happy hour
- How excited dogs get about everything
- Double rainbows
- Warm cookies, fresh out of the oven
- Lazy mornings
- People who can make you feel okay by just being around
- Finding a new favorite song
- Petting zoos
- Holding hands
- When old people get really down on the dance floor
- People with cool accents
- Dinosaur chicken nuggets
- Breakfast dates
- Art museums
- Strangers who smile at you
- Water fights on hot afternoons
- Sleeping during a thunderstorm
- Discovering words for feelings you never knew existed
- Walking barefoot in the grass
- Taking cool pictures
- Knowing every word to a song
- Having a full tank of gas
- Free shipping
- Snuggly kittens
- Dirt roads
- Shampoos that smell good
- Driving with the windows rolled down
- Fireworks
- Laughing until your belly hurts
- Skirts that look really cool when you spin
- Accomplishing a goal
- Free WiFi
- When little kids draw you pictures
- Over-worn pajamas
- Drive-thru car washes with the colorful bubbles
- Weeping willow trees
- Breakfast for dinner
- Meeting people with your music taste
- Dogs with floppy ears
- Back scratches
- When the barista knows your order
- Opening a new pack of crayons
- The way the world looks from the window of an airplane
- Handmade gifts
- Boys’ hair in buns
- Campfires on a cold day
- Getting along with your siblings
- Finding a song that relates perfectly to your life
- Hearing someone’s heartbeat
- Clean, fresh sheets
- Happy old people
- Leaving things in the past
- When your dad makes lame jokes
- Candles that smell nice
- Sliding on tile floor in fuzzy socks
- Painting your toes
- Waves crashing on the beach
- Deep conversations
- Dance parties with your best friends
