Things that make me smile.

Being an overtly optimistic gal, I believe it is important to take some time out of our day and remember things that make you smile. Because as we all know, smiling uses less muscles than frowning.

♥ Going a bit overboard at the Saturday Flea Market. I have found a replacement for my thrifting needs.

♥ My new found friends.

♥ Going crazy at a soccer or football game. I would like to find my own soccer player someday. Big dreamer am I.

♥ Realizing it's been only 3 weeks in Italy and not knowing whether it feels like a lot longer or if time is passing by too fast.

♥ Nice long showers after two days of dirtiness.

♥ Fat things, as usual.

♥ Having class tomorrow but still going on a day trip to Verona.

♥ Life

Coming Soon to a computer near you.

What you lookin at?!

Today is My Happy Day Part 2

My mom read my blog post about happiness and she sent me an email with this little story attached.

I think it gets to the point of what I wanted to say.

It almost made me cry. I'm a big sap like that.

A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care in his
appearance, is moving into an old people’s home today.
After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby, he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready.
His wife of 70 has recently died, and he is obliged to leave his home.
As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane, I describe his small room to him, including the sheet hung at the window which serves as a curtain.

"I like it very much", he says, with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.

"Sir, you haven’t even seen the room yet, hang on a moment, we are almost there."

" That has nothing to do with it", he replies.

" It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up."

" Happiness is something I choose in advance. Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor – rather it depends on how I decide to see it. "

" I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well, or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order. "

" Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life. "

" Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have
deposited along the way. "

Deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories.

Short post. But dude man, I need to sleep. Sleep...sleep. That word is so nice right now.

Today Is My Happy Day

I have this desktop background that has this girl with big classes walking a fire hydrant. On the bottom it says 'Today Is My Happy Day'. This is my mantra - my daily inspirational quote I say to myself each day before I wake up and each day when I go to bed. For many people, going through life is no easy task, but for those of us who simply like to wallow in our own self-pity, I slap your face right now and say, "SNAP OUT OF IT! Life is too short to think so negatively all the time." I am by no means an overtly chipper girl all the time, but when I look at my life as a whole, I try to be happy, because for me, Happiness is the meaning of life. It's so easy to fall into a gloomy state when things don't go your way, but if you look towards the brighter side you may just realize the coolness of the world you have been missing.

Going to a quarter system college means that there is never enough time for me to do all the things I want especially having four classes on top of other numerous activities speaking of which I really need to work on my collection asap! However, I always try to find time to do something fun at least once a day or if not once a week. I always try to do something that makes me happy every day. I believe being an optimist can lead to a much more fulfilling and successful life. I might be wrong, but for me it has definitely worked out lovely.

It's nice to take time away from our busy schedules, our overstressed states during exam season or just life in general - to take some time and just be happy. Happiness is not that hard to attain. Even little things can totally brighten up an otherwise depressing day and in the end it will be worth it to take a five minute study break studying for your 80% final to dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller with your roommate because in the end it’s that happy moment of dancing like a dork that you will remember right? Unless you believe that those five minutes caused you to fail your test (which I highly doubt) and then because of that you flunk out the class and can’t get into medical school and now you’re working full time at the local Target, but other than that, the happy dance was totally worth it. It’s easy to get caught up in the complaining mode, but if you think real hard there’s always something good that may come out from it in the end. Wednesday night while studying for my two midterms the next day, I told Bacne who was stressing out over her midterms (Bacne: I may have exaggerated your part for the purpose of this story :D) that I was really happy and super excited for life. She looked at me with that look of her of hers – the what the heck are you sniffing/confused that she’s living with such a strange person look. In actuality was really was happy. I was looking forward to the next day so I can get it over with and have my happy weekend. I think in strange ways.

Anyways, onwards we go to the point of this post. I was originally inspired to write this happiness post when two lovely bloggers presented me with the “Blogs that Make me Happy” award. Thanks guys! There are way too many blogs that make me happy out there. I will now present a list of things that make me happy and hopefully from it you can find something similar that will make you happy to. Be warned, some things on this list is definitely not for those who like normalcy.

• Dance to Thriller or Beat it alone in your room with music way up or in front of your friends. Don’t worry, they’re not laughing at you – they’re laughing with you. I already mentioned this above, but tonight, while Bacne has gone home for the weekend, I plan on learning the dance moves from the greatness that is Michael Jackson (while he still looked black that is). I will dance the dance. I will flex my limbs as much as I can. I will bring out my red jacket. I will get some white gloves. I will use the highest voice I got. I will dance like I’ve never danced before. This will make me really happy.
• Do the catwalk. One of my favorite happy things to do is pretend I’m working the runway. I serve it good. I serve it real good. I often like to do this at home in my underwear. Okay, that might have been a bit too personal, but now you know, that makes me happy! Pump up some weird indie-techno music and you’re all set. Don’t forget your pose at the end. I want to see you fierce!
• Learn the lyrics for Sir Mix a Lot’s Baby Got Back. I see this for my roommates. I sing this for myself. It’s such a “no-no” song for female empowerment but it’s just so funny when I sing. Maybe it’s because I’m just so lame.
• Laugh, laugh real hard and real good. Laughter always brightens up my day. I have a feeling that our next doors neighbors think I’m a hyena because I laugh like such a freak. Sorry guys.
• Jump on your bed. Just don’t break it. This is really fun and makes me really happy. If you haven’t tried it, what are you waiting for!!!
• Watch Juno online for free and in good quality. Happy little flicks like these filled with awkwardness always make me happy. I seriously want her hamburger phone. Please, if you know anyone who is out there selling a hamburger phone, tell them there’s a girl out there who is desperate.
• Jump in the elevators. It’s like this physic thing about gravity stuff, but it’s also really fun and makes you happy.
• Sneak attack and scare people. Seeing them scream is priceless. Make sure it's someone you know because then they might call the police and have you arrested for assault.
• Bundle yourself in blankets and pretend your in another world. Not bad either.
• Get all dressed up wacky and crazy and then actually go out like that. I wish I did this more often. Or even dressing up nice for the day can change the mood of the whole day. Behold! The power of fashion. Who knew?
• Sing along to musicals or Disney songs or whatever song that tickles your fancy. If you haven’t realized by now I really like to sing despite how bad I am.
• Look at the sky. It’s nice to see how small and insignificant we are. Because if we are that insignificant then our problems must be really insignificant and then we can go on with our lives of being happy.
• Stare at people and observe all their funny mannerisms. Not the nicest thing to do, but it makes me happy.
• Look out the window every morning and say to yourself, "Today will be my happy day". It works like magic.
• Photoshop your friend's head onto a Victoria Secret's Angel.
• Look at your bed hair and take a picture. I love bed hair, it's so awesome. I woke up today and I looked like Alfalfa from the Little Rascals. It set the whole mood for my day.
• Smile more. I like people who smile. Even if it is an ugly smile, it just makes everything nice and happy.

After reviewing this list, I realize my tips aren't that weird at all.

And I realize that I am just a little too happy all the time. Whatever.