How to Put Some Smiles In Your Day

Last night I met a man who truly loves jui jitsu but he was relocating to run a family business.  Because of this he was explaining that he was not going to be doing any jui jitsu for at least 6 months.  I had a former co-worker who after exhausting days at work drearily headed home to care take for aging parents.  My sister calls flustered with the weight of parenthood and adult responsibilities, feeling a lost sense of self. These stories make me so sad.  Yet they are the daily norm for so many of us.

​I understand that life gets crazy and that we often have to put others needs in front of our own, but I am a strong believer that we should never ignore our own needs.  If we don't at least spend a little bit of every day focused on our own happiness, no one else will.  

Step 1:
Write down what makes you happy. Start to inventory it.  Any time that you do something during the week that brings a huge smile to your face, add it to your list.
If your truly at a loss of where to start, try things that you used to love as a kid.   For me, its lots i did as a child, I still love immensely.  Reading before bed,  soaring high on swings, writing stories, bike rides, arts and crafts... once I started to make my list I realized how much happier my days were when I took some time including them.   So now I make an effort to ensure my day has more of those things in it.

Step 2:
Shape your day around these things.  Prioritize them!  This may mean waking up 15 minutes early for some self time, going on a different route home to add in some fun at a park, changing your daily schedule (a little less tv time could be put towards a happiness activity), and explaining to loved ones that you need a little time for you.  

Life gets crazy.  Other obligations get in the way.  
Don't let the stessors of life keep you from putting a little happiness into each day.  You deserve YOU time.  You deserve to smile and to focus on you.  Especially if you are spending most of your time aiding others, don't neglect your own self love time.

It's never too late in life to try something that your makes your heart sing.  My grandmom started tai-chi at the ripe age of 84!  

So turn off the computer, go grab that hula hoop & shake yourself a little smile.  
You deserve every second of smiles.

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