
“Everyday does not start the same but always finish with a smile.”

“Everyday does not start the same but always finish with a smile.”

We live in a world where the hustle and bustle of life constantly keeps us on the move. It’s like we shift our focus from one thing to the next without a chance to rest. If we’re not doing something that keeps us preoccupied then we feel nervous, anxious even; a feeling of being unproductive comes into play. No matter what station in life we’re at, we should always take the time to stop, breath and soak in our surroundings. Pause our life for a moment to appreciate anything and everything we take for granted. It’s so easy to overlook the little things that’s a part of our lives…nature, air, water, family, friends, pets, the place we live, technology that helps us to communicate with others, vehicles that transports us to faraway places, electricity. It’s just some of the stuff that makes our lives comfortable. Taking a time out helps us to reflect on our lives and gives introspection on what we value most dearly. It’s a way of pressing the reset button and re-energizing ourselves to fight the good fight that all of us are doing just to get by and survive in this chaotic world that we live in. So stop and smell the roses, take in a deep breath and soak in that sunshine; relish being alive and be thankful for all the things that get us through the day.

Always remember…
a true smile is contagious
Spread some happiness

Energize your day
Exude positivity
Flash a smile with flair
You are the sum of your memories
so make every hour,
every minute,
every second
of your life
count
Love like there’s no tomorrow,
laugh till you’re blue in the face,
sing like you’re a famous rockstar,
smile brighter than the sun,
play till your body aches
Savor every moment
Be free
and live to your heart’s content
and know that
you’ve truly experienced
what life is all about.

Believe in the journey
There will undoubtedly
be ups and downs,
but have faith in who you are
Trust in your decisions
Rely on your skills
Stand tall
from the support of family and friends
And never waver in your commitment
If you follow this path
that was meant solely for you,
you will reach your dreams
and all its wondrous glories.

You have to take risks
In order to be the best
version of yourself

Never be afraid
Seek challenges that test you
Find your confidence

Failures are the norm
But taking chances are key
To finding your light

With my daughter set to go to college in the next few weeks, I reminisced about my journey into higher education. I was so young and ready to take on the world with my hopes and dreams. I took many classes to get exposed to things I never knew about and met a ton of people from all over the world. I started off with a certain major in mind and then changed it over the course of the four years that I was there. I had no qualms about making the decisions that I felt did made me happy…and to this day I have not regretted it. After graduating, I took that vibrant enthusiasm and dove head first into what I can now call my life. Granted there were some bumps along the way and I made decisions that seemed quite drastic but, in the end, it was what was in my best interest. However, there was a period where I played it safe and made choices that I did not care for. Looking back on it now, would I still make the same choices…absolutely not. I’ve come to learn recently that life is really too short and I need to make the choices that will make me the happiest. It might not be the most logical one in other people’s eyes but who give a rip. This is my life and the smart move is to choose what I will like. We have one life, so why not make it an enjoyable one. The whole point of this is to stress that if you have a decision to make with your life, always listen to your gut and choose what will make you happy. That will always be the absolute best move to make.

“Time heals all wounds” they say but a lot of us cling to the past which makes it quite difficult to move forward in life. Memories of the past is like a double edged sword. Many of the experiences we hold so dearly are often ones of joy, love or laughter that was shared with family, friends and loved ones which can never be replicated. Others are of fractured memories that bring sadness, pain and loss that we try so hard to forget but to no avail. Often times when we’re in a different setting, we encounter a similar situation or experience and expect it to follow what had happened in the past. When it doesn’t live up to the hype, to our expectations, the end feelings leave us disappointed, discouraged and depressed. Or when it brings about the same feelings of sorrow it just fuels our doomed outlook on life.
It’s truly hard to move past these things and I for one can admit that I find it challenging to do so. But everything that we experience makes us into who we are and really does help us to become stronger. Time really doesn’t fix things, it just add more to our already full plate and lessens the degree of our greatest or most horrible past memory. It really just finds a way of taking us out of our comfort zone and pushing us beyond our limits. Whether we bend or break is all up to us. I for one take it by its horn and wrestle it aside.
So if you find it hard to find happiness in life or just trying to make it day by day, take solace in knowing that you’re not alone. We’re all grinding it out the best way we can. There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for all of us, it’s out there waiting for us to discover it. If things are not going your way or your ready to throw in the towel, take stock in where you are right now in life. You’ve made it this far, just think how much further you can go. It hard to stay positive but if you just have a tiny spark, it’s all you need to start that fire in you to go out and take action!