Little Observations - Today's Happy List

I've been challenging myself lately to notice what is happening around me -- the people, the surroundings and conversations. I'm trying to take better inventory of my thoughts and my life. After all, I don't want to live in a bubble. I want to be more grateful of the little details.

Having gratitude comes in handy, especially when you're having a rough day (or week). Today, after working a ten-hour day, instead of focusing on everything that went wrong (my usual glass half-empty attitude), I said to myself, "Write down two unexpected things that made today a good day. Just two tiny little occurrences that made Mandy happy."

Of course I'm grateful for my family and my health -- to be breathing and living through another day. Those are obvious and don't need to be stated. Two other things quickly came to my mind. And I wrote them down here.

I share with you my very brief happy list along with a quick thank you to Simone over at Chocolate Covered Daydreams who was the partial inspiration of this post. She enjoys making lists like I do and her weekly "Things I've Learned" posts are inspiring me to take notice of my life in a new way. Thanks!

Today's Little Happy Observations:

1. I witnessed first-hand that chilvary and manners are not dead among young people.

2. I heard three great, random songs on the radio today that were just the lift I needed.

That's the list. Simple enough, right? Should I explain further? I guess I can elaborate more.


1. Knights in shining armor still exist today. They just inhibit different forms. Surpringly, it was two teenagers who were my prince charmings. Two boys, around 17 - 18 perhaps, were kind enough to open up the door for me as I was leaving Taco Bell. (Yes, you heard me right. Chalupas were calling my name. They helped ease my pain.) Anyway, both guys had their hands full with two drinks each and to-go bags. Yet they saw me coming and used manners that are often forgotten these days. I thanked them both and told them to have a nice day.

Silly as it may sound, it made me smile. It restored my confidence in today's youth. Not that I ever really lost it, but you typically only hear about the bad things kids do. There are many great people under the age of 21 out there and we should acknowledge them. Adults frequently underestimate the great contributions that young people offer to society.


2. When I take the time to listen to music, I'm a better, more joyful person. I absoultely love it when I catch a random song on the radio and the song lyrics uplift me or compliment my mood. That happened three times today.

After a stressful morning, I jumped into my car during my lunch break and heard Dobie Gray. Oh sweet Dobie Gray sang some soul to me.

"Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock n roll
And drift away...."

It was as if he knew that I needed to drift away into his tune and forget about the PowerPoint I was revising (for the fourth time). And just when I thought I was in heaven with Dobie, Styx came on. Oh, how I love Styx!

"Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me"

It really doesn't matter what Styx song I hear. Any Styx tune will transform me into that girl who acts like a complete fool inside her car, using hand gestures and mouthing the words to the song. This great band spoke to me. They knew that I needed a mental getaway and invited me to sail off with them. I happily accepted (yet still kept my eyes on the road).

Then on my way home after those agonizing ten hours, I heard Wilson Phillips. Some of you may find them extra grilled and cheezy. But I felt empowered after belting out their words. They helped me end my evening right.

"Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day,
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'Cause
It's gonna go your way"

Sing it ladies! You are so right. I'm going to hold on for one more day because things may not be ideal right now, but eventually they will go my way. Oh yes indeed. They will. Thanks for that reminder.

Music is so uplifting and altering over my mood. It can change my outlook for the day. I'm so glad I heard the songs I did and took their messages for what they meant to me. Songs are my sermons. Right now they are the only church I feel truly comfortable in.

There you have it. My two things. They're insignificant yet vital to me. I honestly do feel better now. Maybe I'll do this more often. I encourage you to make a list, even if only in your head, of what you are thankful for from time to time. Little observations might lead to big moments of joy.