You might remember picture days in school. In elementary school, someone picked out our outfits and our hair was sleek. And, maybe if there was a juice box spill the nurse would give a change of clothes and hope that the picture turned out alright. Middle school, oh boy. Those were the most awkward teenage years where we wanted to choose our clothes and style our hair. And finally, by the end of high school, we may have found our sense of style and way of being a little more than before, so the pictures were likely less awkward.

Throughout all these photos, though, there was one constant: our smile. Picture day was just another reason for us to smile and look good; it was a tradition that lived on our very smiles.

Middle school me, however, thought otherwise. I was going through some old files and found a piece that I had written about the sun and moon being secret agents (yes, secret agents). That middle school girl believed that the sun and moon were there just to make sure she was smiling. Not just that, but if you were caught smiling when the flash came on (in the form of lightning), she thought you were extra lucky.

Maybe it was naive and just a little girl's fantasy, but I still don't mind believing in that today. We often think we need a reason to smile, but what if it's already there? The sun, the moon, and all of the stars - just there for you.

Trust me - I know exactly how this makes me sound. But, I also know exactly how this makes me feel. So just in case you, too, can feel the same way I do, and just in case you, too are ever looking for a reason to smile, just know that it's always there.

Just know that something exists only to see you smile. 🌞🌛⛅