A lot of times we tend to get caught up in life and forget about the little joys that make life a little sweeter. Like driving with the windows down, feel good music on a sunny day, playing fetch with a dog, or just looking out on the flint hills or up at a bright starry sky and realizing how amazing and fantastic life is.

We’ve all hit those slumps where you don’t get a super good grade in a class or you get sick or your coffee spills all over your backpack. We let ourselves get down in the slums. Trust me, I have been there countless times; hence my reason for wanting to share a ray of sunshine: to give a reminder to everyone to look on the bright-side of life even when it seems gloomy.

There’s no point in focusing on all the bad things that keep happening. Part of being happy is accepting the fact that not everything will go your way, but it’s how you handle it to make it better.

If you don’t do well on a test, use that as a learning opportunity to adjust your study habits and ask your professor for help and advice. If your coffee spilled on your backpack, use that as a reminder not to put your coffee mug in your backpack between classes;)

No matter what crazy occurrences are going on in life remember that there are so many happy things surrounding you. Everyone starts feeling a lot of pressure during this time of year, especially in school because of midterms or classes having more assignments and projects and the stress seems to weigh you down to the ground. Stress can get the best of people and snappy comments are made or tension builds up on teams but that doesn’t mean that something small can’t brighten your day or someone else's day.

When I get stressed all my friends can tell, as I am not the best at hiding how I feel. When this happens I will end up getting a simple note on my desk or a coffee from a pal and just those little things can turn my day around. In a crazy and busy life, we can forget about the impacts of simple gestures but sometimes that’s all someone needs. Sometimes just letting someone know they are doing a good job, their outfits looks good, or buying a dollar candy bar for them can turn that frown upsidedown.

Don't overlook those little acknowledgements and quirks in your day because those simple things are what can keep your day bright. They may seem small when separate but all together they are what keeps this world smiling.

Just some examples of simple joys:

Holding the door open

Buying coffee for the next person in line

Leaving a cheerful note for a friend

Folding a friend's laundry

Sharing a dessert

Making sure someone got home safe

A happy hour sonic drink (can never go wrong with a cherry limeade)