Smiling matters.
Smiling makes us feel better, whether it’s forced or not. In fact, forcing ourselves to smile is a well-known technique to manage depression.
We all know the big things that make us smile, like baptisms, weddings, and birthdays. You know, the really big things. But do you know the little things that make you smile?
I’m going to list mine. How about you try it as well? It’s actually very therapeutic. This list is quite small, but simply writing it has made me realize that many things make me smile. If you decide to make a list, I’m sure you’ll find that there’s a lot that makes you smile as well.
You might not be a “smiley” person, so it could also mean the things that make you feel all warm and fuzzy, like your insides are smiling.
- The beginning of a new day
- My first cup of coffee in the morning.
- The smell of coffee when I’m still in bed.
- Making my bed.
- Brushing my teeth.
- My quiet time.
- God sightings
- Writing
- My Bullet Journal
- Walking
- Eating outside
- Painting
- Patterns and colors in whatever form
- Decorating
- Rearranging
- Helping someone decorate
- Helping others organize
- Any combination of peanut butter and chocolate
- Organizing my walk-in pantry
- Grocery shopping when I can take my time
- Putting my cart back
- Birds
- Smiling at others.
- When someone smiles at me.
- Making a new friend.
- Sermon at church
- Tithing
- Learning something new
- When I experience a “God, how do you do that?” moment
- God’s surprises
- Prayer request
- Hearing from faraway friends
- When I know I’ve made a positive difference
- Finding a new author I like
- When someone tells me I look younger than I am
- Having a good hair day
- Having a good makeup day
- Smelling a fresh-cut lawn
- Showers
- Doing a good thing for someone
- Being financially generous
- Going to sleep with my husband
- Reading in bed with my husband
- The ending of a good day
- Hearing the birds in the morning
- Watching squirrels play
- Watching birds build their nests
- Seeing otters swim
- Watching fish jump in the water
- Watching my husband fly fish
- Feeling warm and cozy in winter
- A hot shower after gardening
- Clean sheets
- Beautiful-smelling lotions
- Bath and Body Works
- Garage sale finds
- Thrift store finds
- Cleaning
- Organizing
- Decluttering
- When someone surprises me in a nice way
- Birthday cake with loads of buttercream frosting
- Peanut Butter
- New words
- Dinner out
- Sitting on my deck
- Dallas Willard (Author)
- Frank Laubach (Author)
- Oswald Chambers (Author)
- Richard Bachman (Author)
- Steve Martin (Actor)
- Beginning a new book
- Feeling book pages
- Lavender
- Scones
- Croissants
- My husband’s voice (it’s very deep)
- Thinking
- Reading
- My BFF’s apple pie
- Digging in the dirt
- Walking in the snow
- Snowflakes
- Colors of autumn
- Falling leaves
- Pressing leaves
- Fresh air
- Bookstores
- Libraries
- Coffee shops
- Boutiques
- Movie theaters
- Pretty table settings
- Beautiful dishes
- Hot showers
- Great-smelling bath soap
- Paint chips
- Scrapbook paper (I don’t “scrap”.)
- Mountains
- Utah
- Rivers
- Streams
- Pine tree smells
- Watching baby bunnies in my garden
- Watching deer in my yard
- Elf (the movie)
- New paint smells
- Dirty hands
