Twenty Ways to Make Your Day Brighter

We all have those downer days, ya know, when it's hard to keep a positive attitude.  Those days that just start off funky and just go downhill from there.  If you're anything like me, you know how easy it is to let that negativity take root and make a not so great day into something bigger.  So when that happens, I make it a point to focus on those little things that can shine some light on my day and help me focus on being positive!  It's not always the easiest thing (and I'll admit, sometimes I just want to revel in my negativity) but re-focusing early on does wonders.  

So here's my list of twenty things that help me banish the negative and feel better.

Bust out that big, cheesy smile. Find somewhere to sit and just keep that smile on your face and let yourself feel it.

Treat yourself to some good wine.  And chocolate?  Sure, why not!

Dance like you're a crazy woman!  Flailing arms and all.

Take a walk.

Leave yourself encourage post-its around the house.

Do something you loved doing as a kid.

Pick out a good book and let yourself get lost.

Snuggle.  With your significant other, your puppy, your duvet...It's all good.

Buy yourself something cute.

Have a Meg Ryan (circa 1990s) movie marathon.

And since you're already watching Meg Ryan movies, might as well put on your favorite sweats and bust out the hot cocoa.  With marshmallows, of course.

Do a random act of kindness.

Expand your vocabulary with really cool words.

Be really, really kind to yourself.

Pick (or buy) some fresh flowers and put them somewhere you'll see them often.

Add a few things to your to-do list that you have already done, then check those babies off!

Wear a bright color.

Remember that you're freakin' awesome and no one else can say otherwise.

Call on the wisdom of Albert Einstein: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Open the shades and let the outside in!

And if all else fails, cute overload.

What do you think?  What do you do when you're having a bad day? What makes your day brighter?  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Little Things = Big Happiness

I feel like sometimes, the idea of "being happy" is made out to be some gargantuan of a thing. When I've allowed myself to think of it this way, I am always left feeling intimidated. I know I need to be "happy" but it seems as if we are starting to make happy something that it is not.  Happy is not an all encompassing word for a perfect life.  Happy people have sad days, too.  This doesn't mean that they are unhappy.  They are just human.

So instead of thinking of happiness as a some big goal that I am reaching for, I am choosing to think of it as a large cumulation of all those little things that bring me joy.  Every little thing adds to my big happiness package.  This has really been a blessing in my life, thinking this way, so... here are some little things that bring me some big 'ole happiness.

Slow sunday mornings
A new West Elm catalog
fresh flowers
A fluffy white duvet
Being able to make N laugh
Getting that rush of inspiration
Sunshine
A freshly cleaned house
Coffee in a big mug
Seeing friendly faces on my fridge
My black and white buffalo check blanket (sometimes there is just one blanket that is cozier than the rest)
A pumpkin patch in the fall
Any kind of mexican food
Inspiring quotes
When Ellie jumps on the couch and buries herself in the blankets
Finding a cappuccino machine at work
When I hit that writing groove
Surprise hugs
A trip, of any kind
Reading a book that just gets me
My favorite shoes (really, you just look at them under your desk and you're like, 'man, those are awesome shoes')
Photo booth photos
Walking outside only to realize I actually need a coat
Being excited about the future

What little things make you happy?