Sometimes, it just takes a foot on the shoreline to realize who you are.

Life is full of experiences, moments that pass by leaving their mark on our minds and hearts before disappearing forever, never to be valued with the same power again.

When I think of my most impactful experiences, I recall the time when in a cuddle-puddle of cushions and balloons my dear friends and I spilled our hearts out to each other signifying that we had nothing to hide and no reason not to love one another. I recall bowing after a performance for which I had severely limited time to prepare. I recall the first time a stranger sincerely thanked me for changing her life just by being myself. These are memories that I could never forget and I thank the great guy in the sky for allowing me to live these moments.

However, what about those little moments each and every day that are also impactful, but may not be memorable? What about those moments that changed your emotions for the better that particular day? How do you thank them? Or do you dwell on the negatives?

If you do not already reflect on your daily experiences, here is a list of some suggests as to what you could think about before you close your eyes tonight.

Interactions with Friends

Every interaction with another human being has the potential to be life-changing, whether positive or negative. Were you honest with a friend about your opinion for the first time? Did a friend make you smile when you were down? Did you make a new friend?

Please never take friendship for granted. Personally, I cannot thank my friends enough. I am usually awful at responding to messages often because I wait for the perfect time and environment to send a message back. However, without each one of my friends I would not feel comfortable saying most of the things I say or comfortable in writing half the articles I write. I love each and every one of them and I hope I have been an influence on them even if it is a fraction of the influence they have had on me.

Did you get a good grade back?

Every point matters! Doing better than you think you did on a quiz or exam is always a euphoric feeling, but do not think that will happen every time. Reflect on how you felt taking the exam versus how you felt getting it back and adjust your work schedule as necessary. Don’t let a poor performance ruin your day!

Productive Accomplishments

What I do before even trying to fall asleep at night is list off every piece of productivity I have accomplished. For example, I would say to myself, “Alright, I did laundry, I cleaned my dishes, I vacuumed my rug, I finished my statistics homework, I got started on my essay and I read a few pages of my leisure book.” Usually, the list is much shorter than this (sometimes longer…), but that is okay. Not every day can be wholly productive and not every task requires the same amount of effort. However, just listing these off can increase your mood because it shows that you have something to be proud of that day.

Did I smile today?

I pride myself in being a smiler. I like to be as happy and positive as possible in every situation because no good can come from negativity (which is different from realism!). With positivity, time moves more quickly, your mood is uplifted and you can focus wholly on your work without harping on the fact that you do not believe it can be done or will be done on time. Smile, friends!

Please, remember to thank every impactful experience you have. Without the small ones, the large ones could not be supported. It takes multiple notes to make a chord and a plethora of words and heart to make a meaningful conversation. I hope this helps my friends and readers to be happier and more fulfilled in their magnificent lives.

Peace, love and happiness, friends!