Let the Happy In

You're magic. Did you know?

You might not believe me, but it's true.

The things you can do are absolutely astounding, and all it takes is a thought.

Story time: Sometime last week (I'm not sure when--my memory struggles, poor thing) I was standing in my kitchen. I don't know what I was doing... Probably bugging my family members to make me some food. But I was in a lousy mood. I was being Mr. Grumpygills for one reason or another and it sucked. So I was staring at the microwave (hoping for food to magically appear I'm sure) when I had a thought. I remember thinking to myself, "Crin, you don't have to be grumpy. There's no reason for it." It came out of nowhere. And then ya know what I did?
I slapped myself in the face! Guys, I literally hit myself as I stood there staring at my microwave. Who does that?? And I said to myself, "Self, (oh and this was out loud) snap the heck out of it and just be happy already." So I forced a smile, found a snack, and everything was perfectly peachy a few minutes later.

Crazy, right? One simple thought made my whole day not suck.

A lot of the time I find that I let my circumstances control my moods and actions. But that's really not how it should work. No, how it should work is quite the opposite: your thoughts and attitude and actions should change your circumstances. We've got it backwards people! No wonder we're not always as happy as we could be.

Your happiness is up to you :) it always has been. No matter what your situation, no matter how dark things may seem, no matter how impossible smiling may be, it is always in your power to be happy. You just need one thought. Just one :) It's all it takes really. One thought to remind you that the world isn't ending. One thought to remind you that there are people who care about you. One thought to remind you that you have countless reasons to smile.
So find one! Think of a wonderful thought; any happy little thought :) Take hold of it, and pretty soon I think you'll find that you'll feel like you can fly. (Of course faith, trust, and pixie dust are also needed for actual flying, so don't try jumping off your roof or anything.) It feels good guys, to know that you're in control. It's freeing and fascinating and fantastic (bonus points: alliteration is awesome).

So just give it a try guys, let yourselves be happy. Take a risk and allow yourselves to kick the bad moods out and let the happy in. I think you'll like what you find :)

Make Everything OK

One day, a couple months ago (I think it was October), I was alone in my dorm, feeling kind of lonely and sad. I was done with my homework and didn't have any midterms to study for, so I did what most teenagers would do: I wandered around the internet looking for something mildly entertaining that wasn't complete garbage.

That's when I stumbled upon a magic button. The Make Everything OK button (yes that's a link to said button; feel free to click it). And as silly as it might sound, that imaginary button on the internet saved me countless times from utter meltdowns.

So here's how it works. You click the button, a little box pops up, informing you that "making everything ok is in progress" and a little green progress bar makes it's way across the box. And then it lets you know that everything is okay now.

Once I found that little gem, I went back to it every single time life got me down. And every time, without fail, it helped cheer me up. It became a big part of my outlook on life, so much so that I have it engraved on the inside of a ring I wear everyday. Everything is OK. 

I never realized it in the moments I needed it, but looking back, that simple button helped me shift my perspective on life at the time. I think it helped remind me that life isn't about the bad days. It isn't about the failed midterms or the bad weather or the loneliness when you're best friend isn't talking to you for a while. It's not about feeling inferior or worthless or inadequate. At least, it isn't for me. Life is about finding joy, making memories with people who matter, doing things to better yourself, and finding the good in every day. That's life :) And keeping that in mind, it really does make everything feel OK, even when it sucks sometimes.

Three words was all it took to permanently change my perspective about every aspect of my life. I mean, I still have crappy days, but I don't let those crappy days consume me and put out the little sparks of good that turn into the blazing bonfires of happiness that light up my life :)

Right now I'm sitting on my balcony, watching fireworks go off all across our little valley, and you know what? Everything is OK :)