Given the circumstances, it wasn't the greatest day.

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The other night, I got two parking tickets. The first one was because I was parked in a private lot. The second one was because I forgot to put the registration sticker on the back of my car, which I had mentally told myself to do two days prior. How upsetting, right? I mean that’s a good amount of money that could’ve gone towards Chipotle, my rent, a few beers, whatever. That’s my hard earned cash, slipping right away from me because of a careless mistake.

A few hours before that, I spilled my coffee, and forgot my keys. I’m also in the process of moving, which I wake up early every morning to move some boxes in myself. Did I mention that I have a broken toe? I also forgot my coat, which happened on a day it was 47 degrees and rainy. A box also broke as I was walking up the stairs, and that was pretty much the final, “Wow, today is going to suck”, moment. Nope! Because just as I was thinking to myself, “Good, if I leave now, I’ll make it to work on time,” I remembered that I desperately needed to get gas. No big deal, I thought. I’ll stop on my way to work. Which wouldn’t have been a problem, had I picked the one that didn’t seem like there was an apocalypse coming. Guess who was late? Me.

Work was work, nothing new besides a project with a deadline I had to finish. I was just excited to get home, which is when the parking tickets happened.

I went to bed smiling.

Despite the chaos of the morning, the daily grind at work, and the night cap of two parking tickets; I was almost laughing. And not deliriously from exhaustion, either. I was genuinely happy.

You see, every day when I wake up, I count my blessings. I’m not religious, I’m not even spiritual. I’m just aware. I’m grateful, and I’m appreciative. You don’t have to believe in something, or anything to find reasons for that. You wake up, some people don’t. You have a bed, some people don’t. If you’re reading this; you probably have internet, and some people don’t.

You see- it’s not about the hardships or challenges you face daily, because those are inevitable no matter who you are or where you are. Those are not preventable. They are a part of life. It’s about what you do have. If you wake up with this mentality, and you fall asleep with this mentality, being happy is easy. You find humor in a day like I just had, by realizing it won’t always be like this. Maybe a bad day, a bad week, at one point, I even went through a bad few months! It doesn’t last forever; that’s what my point is.

None of this lasts forever. The good days, the bad days, the mediocre days; they will come and go and you’re on to the next one. So you make the best of them, and you do this by being gracious. Be appreciative for a single rose, you’ll feel even more thankful for the bouquet. Be appreciative for the smiles, you’ll be thankful for the laughs.

This is not something that just happens. You have to conscious of the things that are worthy of appreciation. You have to decide, every day, that you are in a good mood. And every night, before you sleep, decide that it was a good day. Because a good day isn’t the difference between the parking tickets and not getting the parking tickets, it’s the fact that I have a car to drive.

A good day isn’t the difference between bad things happening and good things happening, it’s the realization that the day happening was enough. Waking up, breathing, sometimes that’s enough. You don’t need good things outweighing bad things to make yourself happy, you just need to know how to be appreciative for the things, good or bad.

If you’re reading this, and you’re struggling to see the point, I’ve made a simple list of things you can be appreciative for, right now.

-Your eyesight (you’re probably reading this).
-Your hearing (if you’re not reading it, someone’s reading it to you).
-Your parents (good or bad- would you be here without them?)
-Siblings (They make the best friends. Only child? Not close with your siblings? See the next point).
-Relationships (Girlfriends, boyfriends, marriages. Who better to share laughter with?)
-Animals (No communication necessary; and they’re adorable. Allergic or not, pictures will do just fine).
-Health (Literally. Just. Breathing. You don’t need to be 100% healthy to be alive).
-Sunshine (Please wear sunscreen. Also it’s so beautiful when it hits something just right).
-Rain (Because colors make the world beautiful and flowers are colorful).
-Bad days

Because even though they can be defeating, they remind you that you are strong enough to overcome them. They help you move towards the good days, and gravitate your attitude towards the small pieces of happiness listed above.

I’m not writing this for anyone struggling. I’m not writing this for anyone who isn’t struggling. I’m writing this because it shouldn’t matter. There is good in every single day if you choose to see it. If you’re going through a rough few months; I’ve been there. If you’re going through a rough few days; I’ve been there too. And if you’re going through a night where you got two parking tickets and had a morning filled with chaos; I was there today. You can still fall asleep smiling; you just have to find the things worth smiling for.

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Disclaimer:
I also happen to be surrounded with a loving family, a wonderful boyfriend, and the greatest friends. If you have even ONE of those things, finding happiness will always be easy.