Everyone has bad days. Sometimes they are bad enough that you cannot see the light at all, and you can only focus on the dark, bad thoughts. I know what that feels like. You are not alone in that. To cope with those days or just bad days in general, I started writing down little things that make me smile.
1. Dogs
Dogs are one of my absolute favorite things in the whole wide world. They make me so happy. They're so silly and happy, and all they want to do is make you happy. Plus, they are always excited to see you. If you need more silly dogs in your life, head over to my other article where there are lots of cute puppy .GIFs.
2. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are just happy flowers. They are so bright and big and they're my favorite.
3. Freshly baked cookies
The smell, the taste, the feeling you get when you pull them apart and bite into them... it's all so lovely.
4. Sunshine
Sunshine is proven to make people feel happier. Good days usually happen on sunny days. I love sunny days because they feel like happy days, and I'm always looking forward to summer so there's a whole season full of them.
5. My significant other
He makes me the happiest I could ever be. Being with him, or thinking about being with him, always brings such a big smile to my face.
6. Birds singing
Birds singing means it's getting warm again after months of cold, and that makes me happy. That, and they always sound so cheerful.
7. The ocean
Everything about the ocean is so calming. Hearing and seeing the waves crashing, feeling the sand and water under your feet, and the sun on your skin... it's magical.
8. My favorite meals from home
Being a college student 2,370-ish miles away from home is difficult. It also means that I almost never get a good homemade meal, but when I do, I appreciate it so much more. Tacos, soup, salads... everything is better when it's not made in a dining hall and comes from home.
9. Brothers
There are annoying most of the time, but they are so silly and fun to mess around with. Thinking of or hearing about their silly comments and the dumb things they do always makes me giggle (and is usually preceded by an eye roll).
10. Sisters
My sisters are like my best friends, and I love spending time with them. We just get each other in ways that nobody else could possibly understand, and there is happiness in that.
11. Candles
Aromatherapy is a thing, and it is wonderful. The smells themselves make me happy, but so does just laying down or taking a bath with candlelight.
12. Friends who listen
Feeling and being heard by someone is so important. It's always good to have a friend you can go to and know that they will listen without judging you.
13. Hugs
Hugs always help. I love hugs.
14. Summer
Just picture it: the sun on your skin, laying in or by the pool, a refreshing drink ready to go. Birds singing, people laughing, eating fresh fruits and barbecue. Pool parties, trips to the beach... it's my favorite.
15. Ice cream
Ice cream is a go to for every occasion.
16. Books
Old books, new books, hard cover, soft cover, all books. The smell of them and the feeling of turning the pages and exploring new world is magical.
17. My favorite movies
I love watching new movies. For me to want to enjoy seeing a movie more than once, it has to be really good. For the select few (other than Disney movies) that are like that, they always make me feel good on a bad day. Disney movies are ones that I could watch all the time and never get tired of them.
18. Singing and/or dancing along to your favorite songs in the shower
Nothing like a personal concert in the shower.
19. Kittens
I did not grow up with cats in my house, only dogs, so I do not know how to act around cats, but I love kittens. They're so adorable and I love playing with them.
20. Music
There's something for every situation.
21. New opportunities
I love getting to do things I've never done before. It's so exciting.
22. Learning something new
When I know I am going to use that knowledge, it is so exciting to learn something that I did not know before.
23. Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes
Personally, these bring back memories of sleepovers and tummy aches, but the best kind. They remind me of best friends and giggle fits and sugar rushes. Plus, when something is Mickey Mouse shaped, it's better.
24. Rollerskating
The smell of popcorn, used skates, and sweat, mixed with throwback music is something that cannot be replicated anywhere other than a rollerskating rink. It brings back happy memories of elementary and middle school field trips and lots of friends trying to skate while holding hands.
25. Sleepovers
Sugar rushes, shared secrets, lots of laughs, staying up late, and watching movies.
26. Quiet time
Sometimes being alone in a quiet space is all you need. Give yourself the space to collect yourself and quiet your mind.
27. Fairy lights
They make me feel like a princess. They're even better when combined with pictures held up by clothespins.
28. Freshly washed laundry
I love the smell of clean laundry and the feeling of clothes that just came out of the dryer.
29. Traveling
There's something about exploring new places that gets me so excited yet so at peace. I adore traveling. I just wish I was a little less anxious on plane rides, and that tickets weren't so expensive.
30. Painting
I am not good at painting by any means. However, I enjoy painting on everything. Rocks, canvas, walls, my arms, paper, everything. It can be so relaxing.
31. Broadway musicals
Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Broadway musicals. My favorites are "Mamma Mia!", "Newsies," "Hamilton," "Waitress," "Anastasia," and "Les Miserables" (among many others). Everyone is so talented and they all have such smooth voices. It's really pleasing to hear them sing and tell their stories.
32. Iced coffee
I never finish hot coffee before it gets cold, so I have resorted to getting iced or blended coffee. It is a necessity as a college student with classes as early as 8 a.m., and even just knowing that I'm going to get coffee that day is exciting to me.
33. Hearing "I love you"
I love love, and I love being in love. Hearing "I love you" from a friend, family member, or significant other is such a good feeling.
34. Flowers
The smell, the beauty, the everything. Every kind of flower. Even if they make my allergies act up.
35. Sleeping in
It's nice to wake up early and have more time to do things every now and then, but getting to sleep in and not worry about an alarm is a feeling I adore.
36. Taking off my shoes when I get home
It's such a relief.
37. Babies
Baby feet, baby hands, baby coos and babbles. The idea of holding a baby in my arms. I have always wanted to be a mother, so whenever I see a baby, it makes me smile.
38. Fuzzy socks
Nice and warm.
39. Handwritten notes/letters
Texts and phone calls are more convenient and efficient than writing things out and sending them, but I love getting letters and cards from people. My boyfriend and I used to write letters to each other (as well as calling and texting) and it was so sweet. I loved it even more because we were in a long distance relationship and it added a personal touch to our communication that texting could never replicate.
40. Stargazing
The universe is so vast and I am in awe of its beauty. I love recognizing constellations and making my own shapes in the stars. I love the peace that comes with staring up at the sky and even occasionally seeing a shooting star or the Milky Way.
41. Bonfires and s'mores
Summer nights with friends and family, gathered around a fire. Burnt marshmallows and sticky fingers may seem like a bad time, but it only makes it better.
42. Popping bubble wrap
It is SO satisfying.
43. Taking pictures of friends
I love being behind the camera. I am constantly taking pictures of everything I want to remember. I have had the opportunity to do photoshoots with a few of my friends, and I love being able to be the one to capture those moments.
44. Helping people
I want to help people in every way that I can. It's a good feeling to know that you have done a good thing, but it is an even better feeling to know that you have touched someone's life and made them a little bit happier, even if it is only for a moment.
45. Listening to stories from grandparents
I love hearing about other people's lives. It is so interesting to me, especially when the stories come from people who lived in a completely different world than I am growing up in right now. I love hearing about my grandma's childhood and how she explored. I love hearing about how people have overcome their struggles and made it this far. I adore the relationships that have lasted decades and are still going strong. I can't wait to tell my story to my children and grandchildren someday.
46. Freshly picked fruits
I love picking them myself, and they always taste better when you know where you got them from.
47. Fall/Autumn
The best temperatures, crunchy leaves, pretty colors, and lots of festivities.
48. Drinking cold water on a hot day
Water is my favorite drink, but it tastes so much better on a hot summer day when you need it.
49. Long, hot showers
Time to think, relax, sing, or just enjoy the water running over your body.
50. Making lists
Most of my articles are lists, and that's because I really enjoy making lists. I also enjoy making to-do lists because I feel more accomplished when I can cross things off of it.
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