Put on your happy face

I feel like a broken record, repeating over and over the power that a smile and a positive attitude has on the people around you. Well, today I finally have the proof I need! (Not that you weren't convinced before, but I think the story I have to share is telling of the fact that happiness really is infectious.)

So I woke up this morning, really tired, and felt like it was going to be "one of those days." I did not want to get out of bed, and I had zero desire to leave my house in the 20 degree weather. Bleh! I headed into work in a not-so-great mood, parked my car, and headed toward the building. Now, here's a little back-story for you: Every day I walk through the same building as a shortcut to get to the front door of work. And every day, I see the same older man sitting at the reception desk, reading his paper, and always has a smile on his face and something nice to say (usually it's just 'good morning" or "how are you.") And every day I smile back and ask how his day is and we exchange the usual formalities. But seeing him always manages to put a smile on my face, no matter how I'm feeling, since he is so friendly and cheerful to every person that walks by (at the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m.). So anyway, today being no different, I passed him in the hall and as usual, he said "good morning!" with his cheery voice. But today he added something extra by saying (in his broken English) "Happy face. You always have happy face every day." And I stopped for a moment and couldn't help but have a giant smile on my face and tell him "Thank you! I try my best to have a smile every day." And I wished him a wonderful day and went on my way, one million times happier than I was 30 seconds before that.

A few minutes later while I was settling into my desk and waiting (impatiently) for my computer to turn on, I received a text from a friend. "Morning! I walked to work this morning and the trees were covered in snow. Please be jealous! Haha but really its beautiful. :) Have an awesome day." And then it hit me... this is what it's all about. Moments like these - the ones that seem so unprovoked and tiny in the big scheme of life or even even the big scheme of a typical day. But these are the ones that count! The smiles, the beauty around us, passing it onto friends so they can share it with others, and brightening someone's day without realizing it. That being said, thank you to everyone who brightened my day without even knowing it! You all make this world a beautiful place to live in.

Pass it on! I guarantee you'll make someone's day.

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad. Thanks for being an incredible, uplifting source of positivity and energy in my life, and supporting me and my outlandish efforts to spread happiness :)