5 Simple Things That Can Make Your Day

By

1. Good food decisions. Ever since I can remember clearly sitting down to dinner with my family every night, a good food decision has never failed to make me smile. Usually made by someone else–since my dinner decisions usually don’t come into thought until minutes before I open the fridge–a good food decision is something that can literally bring my day up from a 4 to a 7 (even an 8 if it’s dining out somewhere). I could have a horrible day at school, it could be pouring rain, and I could have a broken flip-flop, and yet, knowing that I’m getting Shake Shack (if you are in NYC you know what I am talking about, and if not Google it immediately) tonight could perhaps be the one thing that makes my whole day worth it. When I’m at my parents house, my mom usually makes the food decisions, so when it’s breaded shrimp and baked clams with linguini night, you best believe that I will delay anyone, even a prospective date, dinner that night. Plus, it’s free, so thats a no brainer.

2. A compliment. Yes, you may think this is a cliche, but its true what they say. A compliment definitely goes a long way. Truthfully, it could be any kind of compliment, like “Nice shoes!” or “Cute dress!” but I think someone like me searches for the compliments that are a little unconventional. Maybe someone commenting on my artwork, or my writing, or someone telling me I’m brave when it comes to talking to men, something thats not as superficial as “I love your dress, oh my god.” Truthfully, I didn’t make the dress, I’m simple just wearing it, so honestly, it’s really a compliment to whoever designed, sewed and thought up the clothes that I am wearing. I’d much rather be complimented for my mind, but superficial comments like that also suffice to make my day when I know I look good.

3. Meeting someone new. This is something I have only learned in the past few months, but the act of meeting someone new is something I find incredible. You go out one day, and you have the opportunity to meet thousands of new people, especially here in a city like New York. You can leave your apartment not knowing someone, and come back having an invite to a a housewarming in Brooklyn. And while some may think this is purely in a romantic way, you are wrong. Sure, you are gonna meet your soulmate someday eventually, but even if you never see a person again, or just hang out with them as a friend, meeting someone new is so exciting. Your friends and family, you have known them for a long time now, and they seem like they are a part of you. Sometimes my day is made by just simply talking to someone new I don’t know. Every time I go to Washington Square Park in downtown NYC, I make it a point to at least meet one new person. Sometimes it doesn’t go past a few words, sometimes it ends up with a invitation to a NYU Frat Party. Either way, it always puts a smile on my face to know that I’ve talked to someone and somehow been a small .00000000000005% of their lifetime.

4. Wearing a good outfit. This one is pretty self explanatory. When you look hot, your feel hot. Sometimes, if I have a good outfit, I’ll make sure it gets put to use in the best way possible. I’m not gonna wear something I really like if I have one class on a Monday morning. I’m gonna save it for when I have a three classes on Thursday, and I’m going out to dinner with my friends on 10th avenue right after. I know that I am not the only one who does this. But besides all of that, its the same as when you have a good hair day.

5. Laughing. The final and most important thing that could make your day is laughing. Take for example, I had a pretty shitty summer. Had a heartbreak, lost a necklace that  was very important to me and I had to put down my dog that I had for 13 years. Tough summer, yes. And then one of my best friends Emma, quoted Sex and the City to me. “You’ll laugh again when something’s really funny.” And loving Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help but smile. But it was true. I would laugh again, when I least expected it. I can’t tell you how many times a laugh has gone a long way for me. Its a true reaction to something funny, it’s not planned, which is part of the beauty. I never force laughter, I find it hard to. Sometimes I laugh out of awkwardness, but I never truly force it. The only better thing than laughing is making someone else laugh and smile. That is one thing that literally makes my day. I will go lengths and lengths to make people smile and laugh, I feel that it’s part of my purpose to why I am here. If I truly make someone smile or laugh, I carry it around all day with me, so if something not so cool happens that day, I just remember that, and it makes me smile. It’s a never ending cycle, and I happen to think it’s amazing.

So next time you have a shitty day, try one of these things. I am so adamant about this philosophy of life, that I have what I call a 2013 Smile Bottle. Anything that makes my day, I write on a tiny piece of paper, date it and stick in the bottle. I’ve been doing it since January, and I’m a little more than halfway full. My goal is to fill it completely by New Years Eve. And when the clock strikes 12:00, I’ll read every single one and re-live my year. Some may not apply anymore (the ones about the boys who didn’t stay) but you know what they say. Never regret something that once made you smile.