A Beautiful Life

Joy is all around us.

Jan 25, 2016

I read a quote recently that said, “Searching for happiness is like traveling the world to find your glasses when they are on your forehead.” I am a big believer that happiness is found within us. As someone who prefers warm weather, on these cold winter days I sometimes find it hard to feel happy. Or maybe I am smiling, but I can’t tell because my face is numb. Regardless, as I walk through the frigid air (or in any bad situation, really), there is an exercise I like to do. I like to make a list in my head of all the things I love and how happy I am when I experience these things. They make the unbearable cold just a little bit more bearable. If you aren't a fan of winter like myself, I definitely recommend doing this. It usually goes something like this:

*The cold wind causes a single tear to roll down my face*

*Sighs*

Fuzzy socks
Fireplaces
Sleeping in
Tea
Big dogs
Little dogs
Arts and Crafts
Getting all walk signs at crosswalks
Finishing everything on your to-do list
New shoes
Buzzer-beaters
Sunshine
Mumford and Sons
Class being unexpectedly canceled
Finishing a really amazing book
Starting a new book
Ice cream
Sledding
Clothing/apparel/accessories with animals on them
Fruit smoothies
Gaelic Storm
A really cool hat
A brand new box of crayons
Horses
Green grass
The kind of laughter that gives you an ab workout
Board games
Disney movies
Rollercoasters
Mac and Cheese
Candid Photographs
Quiet time
Naps
Cheesy, predictable 90s/early 2000s movies
Trampolines
The moon
Popcorn
Sunsets
Friends
Family

Just to name a few.

By this time, I have usually reached my destination, and the warmth of being inside greets me. My point is, in the moments that feel never-ending, even when walking in the brutal cold of January, bliss is inside of us. It can be easy to forget that even though it is freezing outside, at least I have a roof over my head to keep my safe and warm. I’m pretty lucky.

The day I realized that, I became infinitely more joyous than I had ever been. I stopped fighting, and everything just became easy. Nobody is in charge of my joy, and I am not in charge of theirs. Happy is all around us, and when we grasp it, it becomes effortless. Do not search for happiness—attract happiness. As someone very important to me once said, “If you search for happiness, it eludes you. If you attract happiness, it sticks to you like a magnet.” I promise that no matter how grim that outside winter may look, joy is living right beside you. Choose joy, it won't disappoint.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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A Beautiful Life

Joy is all around us.

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You can be yourself without having to explain yourself, because she accepts you and loves you just the way you are.

The temperature may not be very Autumn-like, but these playlists sure are.

1. Southern Gothic

2. Autumn Acoustics

3. Autumn Leaves

4. Deep Dark Indie

5. Dreamy Fall

6. Halloween Hipster

7. Wanderlust

8. Your Favorite Coffeehouse

... Because life happens

1. Realizing there's no more toilet paper when it's already too late.

2. Making a cup of coffee in the morning and forgetting it in the car.

3. Pushing doors that say pull.

4. When you hear people chew.

5. When it's really quiet in a room and you hear that one person breathing like they just ran a marathon.

6. Grabbing a chocolate chip cookie, only to realize it's actually oatmeal raisin.

7. Getting comfortable in bed and then realizing you forgot to pee/turn off the light.

8. That one aunt/uncle that just always gives you that creepy vibe.

9. When your teacher makes you buy a textbook that you never even crack open.

10. Continuing to open and reopen the fridge until the food that you want magically makes its way in there.

11. Walking into a room and then automatically forgetting why you went in there.

12. People that drive without using their blinker.

13. When you have really slow wi-fi.

14. People who feel the need to scream into their phones as if the other person can't hear them.

15. The world's obsession with the Kardashian/Jenner families.

16. Advertisements before Youtube videos.

17. When people read over your shoulder.

18. A-holes that park in the handicapped spots when they, in fact, not handicapped.

19. People who cut in line.

20. The LIRR/MTA

21. Being stuck behind someone who is walking painfully slow.

22. When people smoke cigarettes right in front of the entrance to the building you have to walk into.

23. When boys think it's cool to treat girls like crap.

24. Guys that still go to high school parties even though they've been out of high school for years.

25. Celebrities that are obviously lip-syncing.

26. How you need a scissor to get the scissor out of its package.

27. When people text using that stupid "voice text" function.

28. Telling someone you can't hear them, so they use the same exact volume and just repeat what they said.

29. When someone gets in the shower right as you were about to get in the shower.

30. Saying "What?" for some reason, even though you heard what the person said.

31. When you're in a rush but the light is red.

32. Cashiers putting your change down on the counter instead of in your hand.

33. The people that go up to order food to the cashier but are still continuing their phone conversation.

34. That awkward time in the fall when it's freezing in the morning but stifling in the afternoon.

35. Emailing your professor a long winded paragraph about a problem you are having and they email back, "Sure."

36. Guys who put their car as their profile picture on Facebook.

37. Girls who have "X Years Young." in their Instagram bios.

38. Trying to find the beginning to a roll of tape.

39. When people drive your car and adjust your mirrors/seat.

40. People that talk during the movie.

41. People that decide to engage in conversation right in the middle of the hallway/sidewalk.

42. When someone says, "no offense," and then continues to say something offensive.

43. People that pop their significant others pimples.

44. Teacher's pets.

45. Going to the bathroom and someone goes into the stall right next to you.

46. When someone leaves your room and doesn't shut the door.

47. Political debates between two people who know nothing about politics.

48. When you get all ready to go out and your friend cancels plans.

49. People that drop their friends for their significant other.

50. People that don't like animals.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Things to do in October.

1. Going to haunted houses with friends.

2. Going to Halloween parties with friends or families or both.

3. We all enjoy going to apple orchards to pick apples and to eat donuts with apple cider.

4. When you are younger or through high school, you go trick or treating in various of costumes going door to door saying "trick or treat" and you get candy or whatever they are giving you for Halloween.

5. Another fun part of October is to go to corn mazes which are sometimes fun and hard to do with friends and family.

6. Back in elementary school, we had Halloween Parties where homeroom parents were the ones who planned them for Halloween.

7. Another event that happens during the month of October is Halloween Nights at the Henry Ford in the evenings.

8. The types of candy and food that are popular during Halloween time are candy corn, caramel apples and many other fun foods.

9. I love Halloween and get to see all the interesting and fun costumes that the kids wear which is so amazing and awesome.

10. Listening and performing in Halloween concerts which are fun and get to dress up as well.

11. Carving pumpkins are always fun to carve because you get to do it with your family and friends.

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