#273

NEW YEAR'S EVE DUH.

#272

church the week of New Year's. it gives a good perspective.

#271

thinking about the fun things you did in the past year.

#270

cinnamon.

#269

a comical wipeout that doesn't result in injury.

#268

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DUH.

#267

CHRISTMAS DAY DUH.

#266

CHRISTMAS EVE DUH.

#265

Church the week of Christmas.

#264

Posting the first comment on something big.

#263

Being the 100th follower of something.

#262

cold water on a sore throat.

#261

candles.

#260

when you can fill up the salt or pepper shaker without spilling a tiny bit.

#259

do I even need to say it? CHRISTMAS BREAK.

#258

when the church speaker says "I'm not sure why I felt so strongly I needed to share this today, but I just felt that maybe someone needed to hear it" and what they go on to say is exactly what you needed.

#257

the song "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables performed well.

#256

an experience that reminds you to be thankful and make the most of your time.

~pray for Connecticut~ 12-14-12

#255

finishing a week you thought you weren't going to survive.

#254

Finding the version of a song you've been looking for for months.

#253

a shower after a camping trip.

#252

a freshly weeded flower bed.

#251

the word "delightful."

#250

the anticipation before a rivalry game.

#249

Cup Noodles when you just really really really need some food.

#248

that one person who makes the game so much more entertaining.

#247

when a class in school perfectly explains something you've been wondering about.

#246

road signs with unusual animals on them.

#245

the first time it's warm enough to wear shorts after a long, cold winter.

#244

the first time it's cold enough to wear sweats after a long, hot summer.

#243

a deep, deep breath.

#242

when you're able, for some strange reason, to not feel stressed about what should be an extremely stressful situation.

#241

when you don't have to choose between a basketball game and a concert, because you can do both.

#240

when taking a risk pays off.

#239

when your battery lasts longer than you expect it to.

#238

when you get a question right that most people get wrong.

#237

one tree standing all alone.

#236

laundry fresh out of the dryer.

#235

looking down into a valley.

#234

saying a prayer of only thanks. try it sometime.

#233

my pillow. and being able to spend more time with it during a break.

#232

really really super cool sunsets.
no matter how many times you've seen a sunset, each one is just as amazing.

#231

babies wearing arm floaties.

#230

watermelon.

#229

alphabetical order.

#228

the end of class on a FRIDAY that you need so, so, so bad.

#227

when you understand something important about yourself through one line in a song.

#226

being able to successfully explain what a word means to someone else.

#225

finding a new favorite place in the whole world.

#224

the day you figure out the small thing you need to change to do a LOT better in a class.

#223

11/11.

#222

when you do dishes for someone else and they're so happy.

#221

when someone does your dishes for you.

#220

composition notebooks. they just remind me of younger days.

#219

the "never mind" after an "oops!"

#218

giant teddy bears.

#217

emphatic debates about whether it's acceptable to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. 

(I'm not the only one who laughs at that, am I?)

#216

finally seeing a movie you've heard quoted repeatedly.

#215

a successful first attempt at a new recipe.

#214

when you're late for class but the T.A. forgot to pass around the roll.

#213

giant teddy bears.

Another Little Note

um, it appears that the little hiatus extended through September . . . and October . . . yep, be back soon. Don't even worry about it.

Explanatory/Apologetic Note

So one of the good things about life is that it is full of wonderful and exciting things to keep us busy. The downside is, this blog slipped out of my priority list for a little while. No worries though, daily posts will be back soon. I just think it would be a good idea for me to take some time off for a little while every now and again. From now on (who knows how long this'll be going anyway, right?) August will be skipped. It's not that there's nothing good in August, it's just that it'll give me a chance to catch up. After all, August tends to be a ridiculously busy month with school starting, etc. So don't worry your pretty little minds, daily wonderful things are heading back in September.
Keep on smiling, ya hear?

#212

when someone laughs really, really hard at a YouTube video you show them.

#211

when a website is easy to navigate. (you know, like, the menu options actually make sense and stuff).

#210

finding a new favorite something.

#209

delicious grilled meat. (sorry vegetarians...)

#208

laughing really hard with your family.

#207

running through sprinklers on a hot, hot day.

#206

drawing with sidewalk chalk.

#205

fun traditions.

#204

a happy baby.

#203

when your hair does exactly what you want it to, on the first try.

#202

when someone recognizes the song you are humming to yourself.

#201

when you look up at the sky just as a firework explodes.

#200

200 cheerios. (and finding a way to use the number 200! win!)

#199

sidewalk chalk in the summer.

#198

writing on dirty cars with your fingers.

#197

when you find exactly the YouTube video you were looking for.

#196

a triple pun.

#195

when you've just put a ton of new music on your iPod.

#194

when someone texts you the moment you think about them.

#193

little tiny guitars.

#192

little tiny pianos.

#191

being in the only boat on an entire lake.

#190

when the bank teller says "have the best day at work ever!" instead of just "have a nice day."

#189

fancy paper.

#188

the moment you remember a name after trying unsuccessfully for several minutes.

#187

when your hair makes itself look good as you sleep.

#186

when you inadvertently make a hilarious joke.

#185

AMERICA. (not ethnocentric, just patriotic)

#184

when it's really hot outside and someone happens to have a fan.

#183

when there's just enough juice left in the pitcher to fill your glass.

#182

finding a really old CD and reminiscing about the music you used to like.

#181

xylophones. amiright?

#180

making up a fantastic song on the spot.

#179

rain in the sunshine.

#178

figuring something out when you thought you were totally clueless.

#177

when people remember about something important happening in your life.

#176

the first smile after having braces removed.

#175

when you bite an almond just right and it splits in half perfectly and you can feel how flawlessly smooth the inside is.

#174

when you think of a really really good pun.

#173

a really soft t-shirt.

#172

finding a pair of jeans that fits just right.

#171

when you do something perfectly right.

#170

finding a hilarious picture you kept for years.

#169

when the green card in Apples to Apples is "repulsive" and you have the "festering wound" card.

#168

food that tastes oh so fresh.

#167

when you sleep outside on a summer night and don't get a single mosquito bite.

#166

popsicles.

#165

when you suddenly understand why you felt that way about something.
(I know this one's vague, just try to picture it when it's happened in your life though)

#164

the satisfaction from repairing something yourself.

#163

the moment you get something unstuck.

#162

when saying "just kidding" takes away the awkardness.

#161

the moment you see a familiar face in a crowd of strangers.

#160

the feeling you get after keeping a commitment, even when it's hard.

#159

checking something off your bucket list.

#158

when a hard thing becomes something you can joke about.

#157

when you think something's broken, and it turns out it isn't.

#156

the feeling of relief after flat out admitting you're wrong.

#155

when a long drive is actually fun.

#154

trying something new and loving it.

#153

shaved ice.

#152

when it starts to feel like summer in the best possible way.

#151

when your parents know just what to do. (even though it's hard to admit they're right ;)

#150

when you realize how obvious an answer was all along.

#149

when you have a moment of clarity.

#148

that one extra day to sleep in.

#147

achieving a lofty goal.

#146

free coupons.

#145

partyin, partyin, partyin yeah. but also knowing how to work when you need to.

#144

the conclusion of something enormous.

#143

that time of the school year when school life becomes one big party.

#142

family dinners out on a deck.

#141

when a movie is better than expected, not worse.

#140

realizing you don't need to set your alarm for the next morning.

#139

when you save $11.11 at the grocery store.

#138

and unexpected phone call.

#137

hearing someone tell a great story, and telling it well.

#136

when you make your paper wad shot into the trash can on the first try.

#135

a pleasant surprised you're somewhat prepared for.

#134

when your bill is an even dollar amount.

#133

when you look up at the sky just in time to see a shooting star.

#132

when someone is excited to help you.

#131

seeing your name on a list you want to be on.

#130

when someone you thought was rude is actually a softie.

#129

birthday dinners.

#128

the way you feel an hour after you've stopped crying.

#127

when someone isn't as upset as you expected.

#126

when the scripture you read is exactly what you needed to hear.

#125

when someone tries to get you wet but you evade them.

#124

when you can laugh really hard at a movie and everyone in the theater probably thinks you're crazy but you don't really care.

#123

when someone could say "I told you so," but they don't.

#122

finding something that was lost.

#121

when someone tries to untie your shoe, but it's double-knotted.

#120

when someone wants to give you money.

#119

when you're speaking in front of people, and they actually laugh at your jokes.

#118

when you take a perfect photo.

#117

new shoes.

#116

legitimately feeling happy for someone else, not just yourself.

#115

when failure doesn't feel like failure, because you know what you learned from it.

#114

improvement.

#113

when you feel happy and you don't really know why.

#112

when you get a chance to use your skills.

#111

SPRINGTIME.

#110

when the size you need is right on top.

#109

the moment you realize your best friend is in the car next to you at a stoplight.

#108

playing the ukulele. try it if you never have.

#107

a wide open street.

#106

discovering something hilarious.

#105

when the automatic toilet actually flushes when you want it to.

#104

when you get to sing a song you absolutely love in choir.

#103

when a funny memory pops into your head unexpectedly.

#102

when your turn signal is alternating perfectly with the person in front of you.

#101

the moment you understand what good things are coming from a hard experience.

#100

successfully completing 100 of something.

#99

when the light turns green right as you pull up.

#98

when you check the time at exactly 11:11.

#97

when you need money, and you forgot your wallet in your car, but then you remember you left some money in your pocket.

#96

spring break!

#95

when someone responds exactly how you predicted (and it's a good response).

#94

when you leave on a bike ride at 5:04 and get back at 6:04 exactly.

#93

a person's reaction when you make faces at them while next to them at a stoplight.

#92

surprising yourself by remembering something.

#91

pineapple and strawberries.

#90

the 182nd Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

#89

irony.

#88

when there's just enough cereal left to fill one bowl.

#87

a freshly cleaned room (especially bathroom).

#86

little light bulb moments.

#85

unexpectedly seeing someone you know.

#84

a good, home-cooked meal.

#83

when you put your iPod on shuffle and that song you absolutely love but forgot about comes on.

#82

going to class thinking you have a test, and finding out you're actually having a review day.

#81

when you get Starbursts in math class.

#80

a bike ride on a nice day.

#79

when you tell your dad he shouldn't worry about something, and it turns out you're right.

#78

seeing your grandma laughing so hard she cries from a youtube video.

#77

when you can tell exactly what someone is thinking based only on their facial expression.

#76

the weekend after the busiest week of your life.

#75

when you drop something on the ground, and it barely misses a puddle.

#74

being well-prepared for a performance.

#73

when a grade fixes itself.

#72

when you know something they don't know. "they" can be anyone, but it's especially great when "they" is a teacher.

#71

finishing a project you've been procrastinating.

#70

driving down a curvy road without hitting a single rumble strip.

#69

an unexpected phone call.

#68

when you say a movie quote at exactly the right time in a conversation and it's HILARIOUS.

#67

when you guess the end of a movie perfectly.

#66

a brand new pencil.

#65

a brand new pen.

#64

being in the middle of a group hug.

#63

the first night you sleep soundly after being sick.

#62

$0.50 ice cream.

#61

a heartfelt, sincere apology.

#60

when a silence isn't awkward.

#59

discovering the name of a song you've been trying to find.

#58

getting a compliment when you woke up late and had to rush to get ready.

#57

sweats.

#56

discovering something in common with a new person.

#55

being so tired and slap happy that anyone who doesn't know you probably thinks you're drunk, except the only thing you've drunk all night is water.

#54

when wind makes your hair look better.

#53

eating oranges after a workout.

#52

when you're running late, and you find a front row parking spot.

#51

winning in overtime.

#50

seeing your favorite band in concert.

#49

when a decision is easy.

#48

getting an A in your hardest class.

#47

when the sewing machine thread breaks right as you finish sewing.

#46

photo shoots just for fun.

#45

finding a penny on the ground made in the year you were born.

#44

guessing the next line in a movie.

#43

getting a real letter in the mail unexpectedly.

#42

tingly face soap.

#41

finding the exact thing you need on sale.

#40

Wendy's on a road trip.

#39

when the bell rings right as you walk through the door into your class.

#38

when people compliment something you made.

#37

when someone's laugh is funnier than the joke.

#36

when you decide to go to bed instead of doing a homework assignment, and finding out the next day that it wasn't due anyway.

#35

music.

#34

walking through the door at the exact minute of curfew.

#33

playing your favorite song on the piano.

#32

coloring books - especially as a teenager.

#31

when you figure out one of the text templates on your phone is "What is your number?"

#30

that moment when  you realize you've woken up an hour early and can go back to sleep.

#29

giving someone a gift they genuinely love.

#28

hot rice bags in your bed on chilly winter nights.

#27

when you tell a joke in class and everyone erupts into laughter.

#26

when you splatter a t-shirt with paint and you don't get any on yourself.

#25

the moment you finish a homework assignment.

#24

a good time with good food and good people.

#23

reading a well-loved book.

#22

when it snows and you just happen to be wearing boots that day.

#21

squeaky clean romantic comedies. (even if you hate how cheesy they are, you can still make fun of them).

#20

when you experiment with food and it actually tastes good.

#19

when you've told someone exactly what they needed to hear, and they tell you so.

#18

when someone you don't know smiles at you. (and they are not a creep).

#17

talking to an old friend you haven't seen in years.

#16

getting an answer to a prayer.

#15

finishing a checklist.

#14

realizing you actually do have a piece of gum left.

#13

old, atrocious, but fabulous Christmas sweaters.

#12

when you wake up late, you already have the max amount of tardies in your first period, and you know your car is going to be covered with frost, then realizing that your brother already started it up and scraped the windshield for you.

#11

watching old movies with your fam.

#10

dancing around the kitchen while cooking, singing at the top of your lungs.

#9

when you've just brushed your teeth.

#8

late-night conversations with your older brother.

#7

freshly baked bread.

#6

waking up to fresh snow.

#5

when you get to class and find out you're just watching a movie that day.

#4

when you eat a homemade brownie.

#3

bike rides.

#2

when you just got a haircut and you can't stop shaking it around.

#1

when your pencil is right where you left it.

Intro

Well, howdy! If you want a daily reminder of the simple pleasures in life, this is the blog to follow. No poems, no soapboxes, no life commentary - just a few words each day to make us all smile.
The idea for this blog came from my personal philosophy of sorts.
The way I see it, happiness isn't based on what happens to us. Happiness is based on our reactions to what happens. Whether or not we feel like our life is going okay depends on where our focus is. We could focus on the bad things we have: temporary setbacks and permanent disadvantages. We could focus on all the good things we don't have: as much money as someone else, the skills or looks of someone else. But that makes a grand total of zero people feel better about life. So instead of devoting time and energy to bringing ourselves down over those things, why don't we just take a minute each day to remember the good things we have?
Something wonderful happens each day. It could be winning the lottery, yes, but it could be just waking up in a warm bed in a stable house. It could be just having a family around. It could be making a friend or trying something new . . .
But hey, don't take my word for it. Feel free to read my ideas of what a small personal triumph may be. But in the end, we all have the ability to say:

"Hey, you know what's good about life?"