Everyday Gyaan

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The Little Things That Make Me Smile

Happiness / by

In the times we’re going through right now, there could be 101 reasons why you don’t feel like smiling. But I’m also sure that for every one of those reasons, you’ll probably also find a reason to smile – if you look carefully.

A newsletter I received from Cheryl Richardson read:

This week, become aware of the little things that make you smile. As you notice them, pay attention to how they make you feel. If they feel good, really good, attach value to them immediately. Tell yourself, “This is the kind of experience that matters. I want more of this in my life.” 

The Little Things That Make Me Smile

So I start to notice and pay attention to the little things that make me smile. And I realize that my list grows – if only I let it. I wrote this post in 2013 and have updated it with a new list of things that made me smile today! I thought it was so relevant for these time.

  1. Pablo and Lucky giving me an early morning nuzzle to let me know they are awake.
  2. An early morning cuddle from my husband.
  3. My first cup of coffee in the morning.
  4. A local stray dog (the kids around have called him Bruno) that comes so happily to greet Pablo and me on our walk,
  5. A wholesome breakfast made by my husband
  6. The scent of my soap, shampoo, talc and cream.
  7. The scent of a agarbatthi ( joss stick ) I’ve burned as I work.
  8. A crazy conversation with an old friend that went on and on – with so many pauses for laughter.
  9. A picture another friend sent me of her newly born granddaughter! (Yes, some of my contemporaries are grandparents!)
  10. The sounds of birds and watching them come to feed at the feeder we have our little front patch.

This list is only from today and it’s certainly not complete.

There’s lots more where that came from – thousands of other moments that I haven’t listed here. Isn’t that reason to smile?

The Little Things That Make Me Smile

The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.

Joh Kabat-Zinn

What are the things that made you smile today?

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The Little Things That Make Me Smile
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Comments

  1. Shilpa Garg

    What a wonderful thought for a post! Listing what makes us smile would certainly add more smiles in our day and also will help us to appreciate smaller things better!
    Shilpa Garg recently posted..7x7x7x7My Profile

  2. Claire

    Things that made me smile today so far and it’s only 10am here! Being woken by my precious five year old. Eating breakfast with him. Reading this post. Watching my boy sit at his school desk with his little pals. Seeing a dog on a lead determined to go his own way despite his owner tugging him the other way. My nine feral cats gathered in the garden awaiting breakfast.

  4. Anne

    This is a great exercise. I’ll definitely do this, starting today. I’ll really make an effort to attach significance to the things that make me smile and remember them. They’ll be good for when I don’t feel so good. 🙂
    Anne recently posted..How To Build Confidence In PositivesMy Profile

  5. janu

    Familiar with point no. 8. And, now we know what you do the rest of the time.
    Inspirational post again.

  6. sharmila

    As I read this post and gave a thought to what makes me smile, my list looked like yours in some points ( esp.point no. 8 ) 😉 Then slowly,as I mulled over it , the list became longer . You see, this in itself brought a smile to my lips.
    sharmila recently posted..The White QuiltMy Profile

  8. Jessica

    What a great post! Very positive! It reminds me of the concept of finding gratitude in the small things of life.

    This morning, what made me smile, was meeting warm, not icy air, as I went outside to walk my dog.

    Having a home that hummed with electricity, children eating a nourishing breakfast, and reading a status update from a fb friend where he wrote the following:

    “Today I’m going to give to those who can’t repay. This includes giving hope to someone who has given up.”

    How beautiful is that??

    Hope today brings many smiles for you Corinne. <3

  10. Mary Hudak-Collins

    Oh Corinne, your list made me smile 🙂 As I’m just getting started in my day, the quiet of the morning makes me smile, the snowflakes slowly passing through the brisk air outside my window is certainly bringing a smile to my face. And, of course, my hot cup of coffee and my ‘blankie’ over my legs is bringing a smile to my face.
    I’ll have to check this blog hop out and maybe later I can join in. My father has been ill and in the bed for almost 2 weeks now and has consumed quite a bit of my time.
    Mary Hudak-Collins recently posted..Kolaczki or Polish Rogaliki?My Profile

  12. Shorya Bist

    Hi Corinee,

    Very nice topic Corinee.It is a great thing that can give you happiness in the world “smile”.I have huge list to smile.When i wake up in the morning first thing i go to my pet dog silently and see his activity he at that time plays alot and looks very funny, i go to shower i remember some old things i smile, i come to my table to see the comments on my blog and smile. i have many thing to smile sometime i dont have anything still i smile i dont know why i realize it afterward. LOL its funny.

    Thank You
    Shorya Bist
    From Youthofest
    Shorya Bist recently posted..How to live a happy life?My Profile

    • Corinne Rodrigues

      Dogs do have a way of making us smile, don’t they, Shorya? What breed is yours and what’s his name? Our Pablo, a boxer, is absolutely nuts!
      Yes, the feedback from readers does make us smile – as your comment just did! 🙂
      Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Friendship Redefined?My Profile

  14. Delia Bourne

    Nice post…we should take time to appreciate everything around us…but sometimes life gets in the way. Finishing Day 31 of the Blog Challenge made me smile today, mending my mobile phone and having fun at my French conversation class this morning also made me smile.

  21. Sakshi

    aww I am the one who should be thankful to you for being part of this journey with my twins. All your lovely comments makes me feel blessed. Hugs and this is such a warm post that will bring a smile on anyone’s face
    Sakshi recently posted..MooMy Profile

  26. Rachel Harper

    I think it’s so easy to focus on the bad things, the uncomfortable things, and the sad things that happen to us day to day, but it takes a strong person to focus on the small things that make you smile, because that is really what get’s us through. Thank you for sharing!
    Rachel Harper recently posted..Organize your 2013 – G! Magazine ArticleMy Profile

  28. melissa

    Oh how beautiful! There are so many things to smile about each and everyday…and this day, what brought me to smile first thing in the morning is the sight of my mom… a wonderful breakfast… music… our newly painted stairs and walls, my Saturdate’s SMS, friends’ messages 🙂 I feel so loved and blessed… what is just missing is a cuddle from my husband LOL…

    Lots of love BS ~ your list also made me smile 😉
    melissa recently posted..Immersed: First partMy Profile

  29. Akanksha Dureja

    Loved the list! If the beginning of the day was so good, i am sure the day went on the be one of the perfect days 🙂

  31. Inspiring Citizen Rafi

    Corrine,

    A cuddle with my wife – of course..

    A sumptuous meal..

    Seeing my old friends at a function in our college.

    Got the opportunity to judge the various food stall at our college.

    Seeing my mother smile…

    I can add on to the list and you deserve a 21 gun salute for sharing this amazing article and making us realize the importance of small things that makes us smile..
    Inspiring Citizen Rafi recently posted..A Mani Karthik SPICY Interview &#8211; Journey Through Arabian Sea, From Cochin to Silicon Valley And 3 Blogs Worth MillionsMy Profile

  33. Brenda

    My daughter who is living in Santa Fe and going to college, texting me to tell she found a job. She is keen to earn her own pocket money. I am proud of her determination and smile as I read her early morning greeting. “I got it, the job I wanted it. Made me smile.
    Brenda recently posted..I Have Loved YouMy Profile

  34. Mary Stephenson

    Hi Corinne

    I try to smile when things aren’t so great, it is hard to stay stressed and angry when you use those smile muscles.
    My Siamese cat that I have a conversation with makes me laugh. I smile when both of the cats are asleep and they make little sounds, I wonder what they are dreaming about. Life would be pretty boring if they were not in it. They bring so much joy.
    Mary
    Mary Stephenson recently posted..Memories and How Well They Serve UsMy Profile