I learned a long time ago to appreciate all things that make you smile! It could be a big life changing thing, it could be the littlest of things. I have decided to make a list of things that make me smile .... that make life worth living, and share them here! Enjoy!
- My children's laughter! There is no better sound in the world than when your children laugh! It starts when they are infants and they laugh so hard they hiccup. Then as toddlers and young children when they get hysterical over the littlest things. Then as teenagers, when it happens so infrequently it catches you by surprise. Whenever you hear it, it makes you smile too! :)
- My house ... in the middle of my street. I love sitting on my front porch on a warm evening, listening to the silence of my street and looking up at the stars! I reminds me how fortunate I am to live the life I live, while at the same time realizing how small I am compared to the rest of the universe!
- My husband ... you will never meet two more opposite people than me and my husband. But that is what makes us work - we compliment each other. And he takes care of me and our family. I met him when I was 16 and noone knows me better than he does (and he still wanted to marry me ..... imagine that!)
- My office. I have a great view of Cambridge Street in Boston from my office. I like when I can come in early and no one else is here. I have a coffee, get some work done and just relax before the craziness of the day begins.
- Cool showers in the summer. There is a line where the water temperature is just perfect for the summer .... right before it gets cold and makes you shiver. Where is hits your scalp as cold and by the time it hits your back its warm. It wakes you up & cools you off & gives you the second wind you need to really enjoy the season.
- An afternoon visiting friends. I don't think there has to be big elaborate plans to stop and see a friend - no matter where you live, you should be able to take some time and visit the people that have been an important part of your life. Sometimes just sitting on the porch watching your kids play is enough to put a smile on your face.
- Watching my son play soccer. I have been watching my oldest son play soccer for 13 years! I still smile watching him play. I realized as I sat at the field this morning, I will be starting all over again this fall with the little one, who is soooo excited that he will be playing soccer like his big big brother! Thirteen more years of smiles! :)
- Finishing a really big project. It doesn't matter if the project is at home or at work. I have yet to decide if the smile is from completing the job and being able to move on .... or if it is the feeling of pride and accomplishment. I guess it depends on the job - today it was both.
- Thunder Storms. I love summer storms. Not the kind that knock down trees or create tornadoes. But just a good, loud, quick summer storm. I like watching the the very black clouds come in, the lighting streak across the sky. But what I love most and what really makes me smile is the crisp air afterwards and the white clouds & red sky. It just seems to clean everything out and make the world fresh again.
- Working in Boston. I know - weird but true! I forget that Boston is a historic interesting place as I complain about my commute and can't wait to leave the office and head home. But on days (especially in the summer), when I can take a leisurely lunch and people watch on a beautiful day, I remember the beauty of Boston and the heartbeat of activity. On those days I smile.
- Finding a bargain! I love going into stores like Macy's when the new season of clothes comes out. I check out all the things that I would love to own and make a mental note because I refuse to pay full price. Then when clearance sales start at the end of the season I go back and see what I can find. I recently found a $50.00 shirt that I almost blew my no-full-price rule for and paid $6.00 for it! Yeah me! That is a big smile kind of moment!
- When my children succeed. Whether it is my step-daughter doing well on a college paper, or my teenager getting his driver's license, or the 5-year-old getting a hole in one at mini-golf; it is always nice to see your children's face light up from the smile of accomplishment!
- COFFEE! While I love my ice coffee from Dunkin' Donuts (I have decided you are either a Dunkin' Donuts person or a Starbucks person ~ I am Dunkin' Donuts!) My favorite coffee is the one I make at home in the morning when everyone else is asleep. It is just warm, cozy and comforting. A peaceful start to the craziness that are my days! Yah Coffee!
- Chocolate Fudge. Lots of people just eat fudge. That is wrong - shame on you! One must experience fudge! Since most really good fudge can be expensive I only purchase one or two pieces at a time and only on special occasions. I like to break off small pieces and let them dissolve in my mouth. This takes time, so you need to make sure that you have some quiet and some time to experience your fudge! It will make you smile.
- Technology Free Vacations. I love to just get away and spend time with my boys. Explore nature, play games, talk .... these are things I think we forget to do with the busyness of the living! It is so nice every once and a while to stop and smell the roses with the beep of incoming e-mail interrupting you!
- Looking a pictures we took on vacation. I love to take pictures! I have hundreds. I used to really enjoy when they got printed and I would write on the back of each one and put them in books. But in the digital age they are all in my computer. But I still like to go through each one and label them. Someday I will print them again and put them in books. I miss that!
- Watching the kids sleep. I love watching the boys sleep (now I am not creepy, I don't go into the teenager's room to watch him sleep anymore - but I remember watching him when he was little). I am sitting here now watching the little one .... the regular breaths, the innocent look on his face, and even occasionally when they kind of wake up talking (like the other day when he woke up giggling, looked at my husband and said "look daddy I'm a chipmunk!").
- The end of a long week. I love sitting on my couch at the end of a long week where I have accomplished a lot. Knowing that I can curl up, stay up late, hang out, do whatever .... because the next day I have nothing much to do and can just chill in the pajamas for awhile, enjoy my coffee and not worry!
- My bird feeder. I remember in my mind I associated having my own home with having a bird feeder. I think it was because I lived in an apartment "complex" for so long. Now I sit in the living room and watch all the different birds stop by for a snack :)
- My blog! I really like my blog! I like it more when people actually comment and conversations can be started. But when I have written something and it touches someone else enough to comment - that makes me smile!
- My students! I love watching the faces of the students in my class when they finally "get it" when the "light dawns." It doesn't happen for all the students since many are checking Facebook or texting - but when it does happen it is brilliant!
- Realizing I am not alone - one of the things that this blog has done is give me access to other blogs about lupus. This is a wonderful thing because it makes me realize I am not alone in a way support groups or discussion boards did not. Because I can choose which blog I want to follow and I can pick strong, bright happy people with positive attitudes - who also go through the awful mind boggling world of lupus.
- Storytime! It is nice to turn off the technology and read a book with the little one. I refuse to purchase an electronic book reader for this purpose! Storytime should be with an actual book - I know it is old fashioned but I like the formality of it, turning the pages, looking at the pictures, etc. It is a great way to connect with your kids.
- Being stuck in the car with my teenager! Over the years the car is the place my oldest son and I had our best conversations about life ..... probably since he couldn't actually leave and neither could I. But now that he is driving, and has his own life that I am not always a part of these conversations are even more important and special.
- Knowing that the dog will always be happy to see me when I get home! I have to admit I did not want to get a puppy. But a year later I have to say that the joy on the dog's face when I get home always makes me smile. They really ask so little from us and give so much to us. My husband was right .... the dog was a good idea.
