Reason to Smile #4

Custom Headstones

Yes, you read that correctly. Today was a sad day as I had to attend a funeral; while I was standing in a cemetery surrounded by family I couldn't help but notice all the different gravestones. Headstones can make people sad as they mark that someone is now forever missing from our lives, but it can also serve as a reminder of all of the memories we had with them. I saw headstones with bible verses of encouragement, poems that could make you smile as you cried, pictures of the love one, designs capturing things they loved such as flowers or their family farm house. While these things did make me sad, I could not help but remember that our life on earth is not forever and that this is not our home. Custom Headstones can give us hope that the best is yet to come, and while filled with sadness we can also be filled with hope and peace.
Custom Headstones = memories of those who made us smile

Reason to Smile #3

Lightning 

There is something very refreshing about a storm’s breeze during the hot months of summer, of course this post is not about summer storms (I’ll probably post on that later). Lightning is amazing because it lights up the sky and out of darkness appears the beauty. I particularly like cloud lightning, first I like clouds (post coming so) and second then I know that the lighting isn’t striking or destroying anything on the ground. Lightning can be a scary thing, but sometimes even scary things that we may not ever fully understand can be wonderful. I always love a good lightning storm even if it keeps me up at night because I can just sit and watch the sky in awe. 

Lightning = awe{struck} smiles

Reason to Smile #2

Newborn Babies

Yes they can look like aliens, they cry to communicate, and they can be messy . . . that is all besides the point because there is something precious about a newborn. When I say newborn, I am talking just hours to days old. As a hospital employee, I have the pleasure of seeing new babies often. I get to see their excited families show them off. The thing I like most about newborns is that they have their whole lives in front of them, they have no memory of pain. Almost every day they have another first, another accomplishment no matter how small, and those are what make me smile. They are completely dependent, and have no say in the matter; they are forced to trust. Tiny little packages of joy with soft hair and adorable reactions to the world around them. 
Newborn Babies = smiling faces on young and old alike

Reason to Smile #1

Sonic Happy Hour

From 2-4 everyday a person can get half priced drinks from Sonic. The drinks can be of any size and they have so many drink options. On top of this they have a variety of foods that are offered at a discount for the snack size. It is the perfect option for hot summer days, as you can cool down with something as exotic as a cherry limeade slush with add candy pieces or something simple as a lemon water. I always think happy hour is a deal, and in my hometown where Sonic has become a hangout place, going to Sonic during happy hour can result in seeing friends or just chilling in the car to chat with who you brought along. I love when someone asks me if I want to go to Sonic for happy hour, and will hardly every turn them down.
Sonic Happy Hour = smiles all around

Smile

Today, I was thinking why do humans smile? Happiness is often associated with a smiling face, but what makes us smile? 

Things I do know about smiles:

• Most people enjoy smiling (when it's not forced for taking a million pictures). Humans find smiling faces more attractive than a face without a bright smile. 
• You can smile with teeth or without.
•  It takes less muscles to smile than to frown.
   

Life can be chaotic and a whirlwind that only seems to go faster with age. While I have many happy moments, there is also a fair share of moments where there seem to be no smiles to be found - a break up, a death, an abrupt ending to an adventure, the closing of a chapter - and the list goes on and on. Sometimes I just do not want to smile, even feel like I’ll never smile again. So in my spare time I’m making a list, a list that includes all the things that can make me smile. I want to be able to come up with a reason to smile even if it seems like there is none because I know I can always find something little out there that can bring me joy (since smiling is easier than frowning). In no particular order, and with the hopes of bringing a smile to someone’s face I give you the series - Reasons to Smile

When Happiness Makes You Cry

          Last night, I found myself crying for no reason. Sometimes I just can't explain the deep sadness that begins in the chest and continues to spread until exiting the body through tears. Sometimes, I think I am the only one to know this pain. To know what it's like for a cloud to seemingly cover the sun even for a mere moment making everything lifeless. It just as easily disappears and with it the pain fade, the tears roll to a stop.

         Okay, to be honest, there was sort of a reason behind the tear. Happy remembering was the cause. Remembering such happy memories that I wish I could relive them. Then I remember all they can ever be is just that - memories. There I was crying and not tears of joy, tears of sadness because of a happy moment that has forever been lost. I do not cry because my life is miserable and I don't think thing will get better, I cry because it's different and everything has changed. 

         Change is also the reason I smile; it is the reason that I laugh and enjoy some of the best days I could ever imagine. I have realized we have to have bad days in order to have good ones. The bad days make us realize how great we really have things. The bad days make us happy when wonderful days return. We compare all the days we have to our worst and lowest day in order to see that change is a good thing. 

         Yes, I still yearn for things of the past. I long for things that I can never have again. I have an intense desire for times that almost seem as if they happened once upon a time. I wonder what it would be like if people didn't die or move on and if nothing ever changed, but then I realize that such a world could never be. One of my favorite songs conveys this in an beautiful and tender way:

Every so often we long to steal,

to the land of what might have been,

but that doesn't soften the ache we feel

when reality sets back in.

         It may hurt, but we need change and we also need to realize that sometimes it is happiness that makes us cry.

A Letter From the Future

High School Graduation time has rolled around again, and as I prepare to go graduation party hopping I just wanted to jump back to my graduation (after all, it was just last year).

If you know me and have had the honor (if you want to call it that) of hearing me give a speech, then you know that I am not the best public speaker. I have been told I do not speak loud enough or that I do not speak slow enough, but I do try. So here are the words of wisdom I bestowed upon Nevada High School's Class of 2014.

Superintendent Dr. David Stephens, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tyson Beshore, Principal Mr. Whalen, Vice Principal Mr. Stewart, Distinguished Members of the School Board, Honorable Teachers and Counselors, Beloved Parents and Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Graduates:

I couldn't find the right words to say today, but then I stumbled across this - a time capsule. From the Future, Postmarked 2024.

Greeting Earthlings! Do not worry, you have not turned into an alien. Although I hope my invention has turned into a time capsule, ultimately helping this letter find its way to you. I know this is going to sound crazy - but I'm writing this to you from the future.  Ten years in the future actually.  Where I come from you are preparing for your ten year class reunion. If my calculations are correct you are reading this on your graduation day, Sunday May 25th, 2014.

I congratulate you. Today is your day! You have endured through countless hours, countable days, and very countable years, 13 in fact, to reach this day. You have received much help and I believe several thank yous are in order. First, you need to thank your parents. Without them, you literally, would not be here. Your parents, and other parental figures, started you out on this incredible, educational quest. Second, thank your teachers. Your preschool teachers taught you the alphabet and numbers, more so you were taught how to socialize with one another, in time leading to your friendships. Your elementary and middle school teachers managed all of your rambunctious actions and taught you new facts daily, without the comfort of jeans, I might add. Your high school teachers guided and prepared you for change. From the ABC’s all the way through Rapid Reviews, your teachers have been with you every step of the way. These people have helped you in ways that deserves a magnitude of thank yous, but today is not their day. Today is your day, so, finally, thank the Class of 2014. You would not be who you are today if it was not for your fellow classmates. Some of them have stood by your side, offering friendship, encouragement, and motivation. Others, have forced you to gain strength and perseverance. These skills, memories, and experiences are things that will create a successful future. Today is the day for celebration, so seize it as it is yours.

As a senior you are already old before your time. You spend your day worrying about college, a job, or marriage and a family. These things are important, do not get me wrong, but they are not everything. Live in the moment before the moment passes you by. I challenge you to invest time to stop and smell the roses. Grades may get you scholarships, make your parents proud or enable you to go on “lunch out” but they do not define intelligence. You may not always get the grades you wish for or the job you most desire, and you might panic, but you will make it through and triumphantly come out of the experience with a smile on your face. College, a job, a family; these things will come in there own good time and they will all fall into place seamlessly. Meanwhile, go and assemble your own definition of brilliance.

Soon you will no longer be a senior, but a fresh out of high school graduate. Now is the time to find, for yourself, what is important. Is it the new iPhone? Is it the many pairs of shoes you own or all your colorful leggings?  Is it instagram and all the selfies? {man, I wish I had taken a selfie] Is it your high tech fishing pole or hunting gun? You may think these things make up your whole life, but you will miss other opportunities while trying to follow these “interests.”  Now is the time to make friendships that last. These kinds of friendships are rarer to discover as the years go by. No longer will you spend your days within the walls of Nevada High School. No longer will chicken patty be your lunch on Wednesdays. No longer are you a high school senior. This is when the adventure starts.

Your adventure is full of adjustment and development. At first, all the changing and growth may seem bizarre, but before you know, it will have become the norm. I want to tell you that you are victorious in accomplishing your goals. How do I know this? Well, I saw you complete and reach the goals you set. You are strong, brave, and determined. Keep living and laughing, Class of 2014. Your future looks bright.

P.S.

You are going to be SO proud of yourself.