Little celebrations

I've been through many ups and downs this semester, but I feel like I need to focus on and remember the little celebrations in my life that make me smile.

I think it's healthy for us to actively say, "yes, this was a good moment" or "yes, this makes me happy."

This acknowledgement makes us mentally process our happiness and any positive aspects of the day. This one step can significantly increase our mood, or at least strengthen our gratitude for these moments.

Today, I was walking to class and looked up at the tall palm tree above me swaying beneath the beautiful sun and thought, "wow, I'm here, present in this moment. I travelled 2,400 miles away to be in a place that makes me happy, and I am so thankful for this sunshine. I am thankful for my courage, even if I don't realize it at times." It's almost as if God was with me in that sunshine, smiling down on me and making me thankful for my journey thus far.

These little moments are my little celebrations. They keep me going when I feel like I just want to fling myself onto the floor and cry due to stress and doubt in my abilities. Whenever I feel this way, I try to remember something in the past day or week that has made me smile.

I've been writing down anything that makes me happy during the day on slips of paper and putting them in a cute little jar on my desk for about 2 years now. Sometimes (most of the time) I forget to take the time out of my day and write things down to put in my jar, but whenever I do, I feel so grateful.

Just by taking 5 minutes at the end of each day to think back over what made you smile, significantly helps you feel appreciative of your life.

However, I've had days where I can't find a single thing to write down. That's okay.

I just reach in my jar, pick up a slip of paper, and read what has made me smile in the past. By reading and remembering that happy time in my life, I am fulfilled in that moment.

One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is to grab my jar, plop down in the middle of my floor, and dump the entirety of the jar out in front of me. I spread out all of the papers and begin to read each one individually. Eventually, I create a huge rectangle of happiness by placing each one down on the ground so I am able to see my happiness in tangible form.

I highly suggest this little exercise! It's a wonderful way to collect your smiles throughout the year and celebrate the littlest (or biggest) things that made you say, "wow, what a great moment." It's amazing to actually see how much beauty and happiness surrounds your life.