Positivity Project # 2: 50 Things To Be Happy About

As I was decluttering my home before the new year, I took some time to flip through my journals from my teen years. They were filled with so much positivity and happiness and, as mentioned in my first post of the new year, I definitely saw the world in a better way back then. There was a particular part of my journal that really made me ponder and this was my list of "50 Things In My Life to be Happy About" that was part of a Creative Writing class assignment. Going over the list, I noticed it turned from more personal things in my life, like having good grades, to more general and obvious things, like "nature" and "reading". When I flipped to the next page, I couldn't help but smile..

I guess as a teen, I was happy about a lot of things...When I got to number 50 on my list, I realized, hey, there are even more things to be happy about...so I kept going....

And when I got to number 50 of ANOTHER 50 Things to be Happy About....I kept going...

...and when I got to number 37 of "...And Then Some", I all of a sudden had a list of 137 things that I was happy about. Wow! I was on a roll! I probably could have kept going but the school bell must have rang! 

So, reflecting back to this journal entry of 50, or, lets face it, 137 things to be happy about, I realize that a list like this would actually be really beneficial and fun to do as an adult to help us see that there is a lot in our lives to be happy about. The last time I did this was over ten years ago in my last year of high school. Looking back at the simplicity of my list, I found happiness and positivity in nearly everything and this has inspired me to be more like my old self in 2015 and beyond.

Since coming across this list,  I have told myself that I will not leave it another 10+ years to complete another one like it and will attempt to write one once a month or even every time I am feeling glum, stressed or that things are not working in my favor.

I urge you all to try it out. You can write your list anywhere: in a journal, on a scrap piece of paper, on your phone's notepad or a real notepad...ANYWHERE! Email the list to yourself so you have something to look back and reflect on. I assure you, there is ALWAYS something in your life to be happy about....think about your favorite foods, people in your life, events, milestones, travel, movies you like, concerts you've attended etc. Or just look to my list for inspiration. It may be silly (ie. Willy Wonka, Easter Egg Hunts, Lava Lamps etc)  but, hey, it proves that there is always something to be happy about (and yes I was too young to be drinking margaritas and cheap wine - what a rebel I was). You don't have to go past 50, but I assure you, once you get going on your list, you will want to keep going...and going...and going, just like the Energizer Bunny!

Would love to hear your feedback if you attempt this project! Have fun and enjoy! Check back soon for Positivity Project #3 and, if you missed Positivity Project #1, you can find it here!