As I’ve been reading my student blogs (there are SO MANY of them), I’ve been coming back to Breanna’s work and this one in particular. She writes about how we see the reasons to cry all around us, yet, we tend to look past those reasons to smile. The last sentence in her writing, she challenges her readers to come up with three reasons to smile.
I’ll go her one better, and challenge you to come with with ten reasons to smile. It’s ambitious, but for most of us slicers, we notice these things all the time! 🙂
So, without further ado: My ten reasons to smile:
- Reading my student writing when it inspires me! Sometimes, students surprise the heck out of you. This group of writers has done this, with many showing some grit being able to blog throughout spring break.
- My daughters smiling, laughing, and talking together. They don’t always get along well, but this weekend, it was nice to see them together.
- Coaching. Whether it’s a basketball game or in class, I love doing it, period.
- Being able to go out with my wife, just the two of us. It will happen MUCH more, sooner than we realize, but it’s still fun! 🙂
- Watching a good basketball game, enough said on that one. I about passed out watching the Wisconsin vs. Florida game because my wife was sleeping right next me. 🙂
- Seeing a “to do list” checked off. While this didn’t happen over spring break, I did get some stuff done!
- Seeing my daughters and wife smile. Another reason for us to get together, seeing them together, laughing, and being strong women together.
- Losing weight! This was Day 7 in our Whole 30 plan, and while I can’t say the cravings have stopped (eating my way through the Pop Tart aisle sounds good), but I can say I’m seeing how my mindless eating was hurting my body. Here’s to another week with a good eating attitude.
- A good book and time to read it. I usually read about 15 – 20 minutes per night at bedtime, which isn’t a whole lot, but it’s still time to just calm my mind. Right now, It Starts with Food, the first book dealing with the Whole 30 plan, is my book right now, reading about the science of the food we eat. Geeky stuff, but interesting all the same.
- Reading other Slicers and their blogs. Seeing your trials, tribulations, your passions, your ups and down inspire me to do better.
There you go! Now, what about you?
#makemesmile
March 26, 2017 at 8:21 pm
it’s good to think about all of the good things in life, all the things that make you smile. It is too easy to focus on the negatives in life.
March 26, 2017 at 8:23 pm
I agree, and it was a good exercise to do! And yes, I’m in a much better mood because of it! 🙂
March 26, 2017 at 8:22 pm
I love this and I’m glad you could come up with so many things to smile about!
March 26, 2017 at 8:24 pm
I was easy to do, and that’s the brilliant part of it! Guess what my students are doing tomorrow? 🙂
March 26, 2017 at 8:24 pm
What a great post. Gratitude is one of my favorites and congrats on the new focus on healty eating.If I can write everyday for 31 days, maybe I can eat better too?!
March 26, 2017 at 8:27 pm
Ha ha! 🙂 Whole 30 is a tough diet, but we are in it for the long haul. No bread, no sugar, no booze…..yikes! 🙂 But, if this helps me to think about what I eat, it’s well worth!
March 26, 2017 at 9:07 pm
I love that your student inspired you, and I can especially relate to #6. You must have been fit to explode watching the game with a sleeping wife next to you. I’m thinking about how much my parents yell/exclaim during a game and can’t imagine either of them doing so quietly.