75 Reasons To Be Happy

75 Reasons To Be Happy

Let's spread some joy.
Shawntel Shirkey
Shawntel Shirkey Nov 21, 2016
33
views

In a time of anger, frustration, and dividedness, I want to do what I can to keep things positive. As we come up on Thanksgiving, I want to remember all of the reasons that I have to be happy - and there are a lot.

1. Sunsets

How does it do that every single day?

2. Laughter

There's nothing better than laughing until you cry.

3. Puppies

4. Michael Buble's Christmas album

Yes, I do in fact listen to it in July.

5. Stepping on crunchy leaves

6. "The Princess Bride"

"Anybody want a peanut?"

7. Chocolate

8. Singing in the car

Every song that comes on is my "favorite song".

9. Clothes fresh out of the dryer

10. Popping bubble wrap

11. Receiving letters

Let's revive this, shall we?

12. Finding cash you forgot about

It's like getting free money!

13. The perfect milk to cereal ratio

14. Days that are sunny with a high of 75

And standing out in the sun without breaking a sweat.

15. Your favorite band

16. Free ice cream for your birthday

Don't judge me for celebrating my birthday every night this week.

17. The perfect shave

18. Having silent conversations with your best friend

19. The beach

Toes in the sand, sun on your face. There's nothing better.

20. Watching a baby learn something new

Walking, discovering their reflection, saying a new word, babies are so fun to watch.

21. Rainy days

And leaving the windows open all day.

22. Lazy mornings

It's 12 o'clock and I haven't even made it out of bed.

23. Surprises

It's a good feeling when a friend surprises you with your favorite candy/drink/etc.

24. A new hair cut

25. Flowers

26. Wearing your favorite outfit

Yes, I know I look cute. Thank you.

27. Pregnant bellies

You can't help but smile.

28. Taking off your shoes when you get home

29. 3 day weekends

30. S'mores

31. Falling asleep to the sound of thunder and rain

32. Road trips

33. Cookies fresh out of the oven

So I ate seven. What's it to you?

34. Driving with the windows down

35. Fires

There's something about sitting around a fire that bonds people.

36. Peanut butter and chocolate

The combination of heaven.

37. The stars

38. Breakfast food

Waffles. Any time of day.

39. Catching up on your favorite TV show

40. Finishing a book

41. Looking at old pictures

Remembering the good times and the bad hair cuts.

42. Candles

43. Naps

44. When your Amazon package finally arrives

45. New school supplies

There's nothing better than a brand new pack of pencils.

46. Sunlight coming through the trees at sunset

47. Hammocks

48. The first sip of your favorite drink

49. A new journal

50. Payday

For the next 24 hours, I am rich.

51. Popsicles

52. The mountains

53. Making a new friends

54. Long walks

55. Parks

Trees, grass, people watching, playing with random dogs.

56. Listening to your favorite song

It's been on repeat for the last week.

57. New shoes

I've heard they make you run faster.

58. Miniature anything

Mini horses, mini M&Ms, mini Christmas trees. They are all good.

59. Birthdays

One day just to celebrate the birth of someone you love.

60. The window seat

61. A new pack of bobby pins

Enjoy them while they last.

62. Coming home to your dog

At least someone loves me.

63. A really good hug

Some days, a hug from your best friend is all you need.

64. The smell of coffee

65. Summer nights

66. Freshly fallen snow

67. Barnes & Noble

68. Your favorite pair of jeans

69. When trees begin to blossom

Winter is over. Happiness can return.

70. Pasta

I couldn't be gluten free if I tried.

71. Marking items off of your to-do list

72. A clean kitchen

73. Inside jokes

74. Bubbles

You have to be happy when there are bubbles around.

75. Christmas lights

Cover Image Credit: Pexels
Shawntel Shirkey
Shawntel Shirkey Nov 21, 2016
At @friends-university

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If You've Ever Been Called Overly-Emotional Or Too Sensitive, This Is For You

Despite what they have told you, it's a gift.
Jennifer VerMeulen
Jennifer VerMeulen Sep 7, 2016
501441
views

Emotional: a word used often nowadays to insult someone for their sensitivity towards a multitude of things.

If you cry happy tears, you're emotional. If you express (even if it's in a healthy way) that something is bothering you, you're sensitive. If your hormones are in a funk and you just happen to be sad one day, you're emotional AND sensitive.

Let me tell you something that goes against everything people have probably ever told you. Being emotional and being sensitive are very, very good things. It's a gift. Your ability to empathize, sympathize, and sensitize yourself to your own situation and to others' situations is a true gift that many people don't possess, therefore many people do not understand.

Never let someone's negativity toward this gift of yours get you down. We are all guilty of bashing something that is unfamiliar to us: something that is different. But take pride in knowing God granted this special gift to you because He believes you will use it to make a difference someday, somehow.

This gift of yours was meant to be utilized. It would not be a part of you if you were not meant to use it. Because of this gift, you will change someone's life someday. You might be the only person that takes a little extra time to listen to someone's struggle when the rest of the world turns their backs.

In a world where a six-figure income is a significant determinant in the career someone pursues, you might be one of the few who decides to donate your time for no income at all. You might be the first friend someone thinks to call when they get good news, simply because they know you will be happy for them. You might be an incredible mother who takes too much time to nurture and raise beautiful children who will one day change the world.

To feel everything with every single part of your being is a truly wonderful thing. You love harder. You smile bigger. You feel more. What a beautiful thing! Could you imagine being the opposite of these things? Insensitive and emotionless?? Both are unhealthy, both aren't nearly as satisfying, and neither will get you anywhere worth going in life.

Imagine how much richer your life is because you love other's so hard. It might mean more heartache, but the reward is always worth the risk. Imagine how much richer your life is because you are overly appreciative of the beauty a simple sunset brings. Imagine how much richer your life is because you can be moved to tears by the lessons of someone else's story.

Embrace every part of who you are and be just that 100%. There will be people who criticize you for the size of your heart. Feel sorry for them. There are people who are dishonest. There are people who are manipulative. There are people who are downright malicious. And the one thing people say to put you down is "you feel too much." Hmm...

Sounds like more of a compliment to me. Just sayin'.

Cover Image Credit: We Heart It
Jennifer VerMeulen
Jennifer VerMeulen Sep 7, 2016
At Grand Rapids, MI

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Life Is So Much More Than Ourselves

The lives we live are really so much bigger than just ourselves.

taylorcust
taylorcust Jun 18, 2019
1049
views

I hope people hear this loud and clear when I say that this generation of people and quite frankly our society as a whole has become one of the most selfish to date. I really hope people reading this don't take it as me calling people out, "throwing shade" or bashing humanity, I'm just trying to put out a call to action but in a more blunt way.

This generation subconsciously lives by the "me, my, mine" lifestyle. Everything is all about us, and what we want and immediate satisfaction or gratification from the things that we do in life. We always want someone to notice what we are doing, that we did it and we want to be acknowledged for it. Our wants and desires power so much of what we do and how we react to what others do and so on and so forth. Also, kind of piggybacking on that, we tend to believe or live by the idea that, "yeah it happens, but it's never gonna happen to me" which can be a major issue when it comes to decision making. This is because we don't think about how it affects anyone but ourselves, usually in the immediate sense rather than the long term.

With that being said it can become an issue when we choose to ignore the other things going on around us like, "oh, someone else will get it." and then things like the trash epidemic and the state at which our planet and country is in now. We have become so self-absorbed that it's to hell with everything else. The places that we call home and the world that we know is falling apart and we are all just gonna sit by and watch like nothing is happening.

I am tired of the mentality that we as a society live in, and how we try to desperately to look great on social media but do nothing about it in real life. It is time that things change and we are the ones changing it.

taylorcust
taylorcust Jun 18, 2019
At Troy University

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