Smile much?

It takes 17 muscles to smile, and 43 muscles to frown.

Recently, I've been trying to smile more. Partly because I hate working out, but also because I'm trying to be happier. According to the facial feedback hypothesis, the tightening of facial muscles either in a smile or frown can alter the way we feel, thus smiling more can make one happier. It's weird to think that I need to force myself to be happy. I mean, I don't view myself as an unhappy person, but every once in a while I just can't seem to find anything to take joy in. One would think that being happy should naturally be within us, something that we don't have to force or even learn. But from my personal experience, I've found that I have to learn to be happy more and more often. I'm trying to find happiness in everything, especially in other's successes. Competing to be the best has left many I know, myself included, unable to celebrate when others create, find, or love something better or first.

I want to be the kind of person who is over-joyed by all the small bits of life. One step I'm taking to appreciating the small stuff is doing my best to thank the G-D daily for where I live. My cousin is visiting from out of state and she is absolutely floored by the beauty of Monterey County. Last night she told me that even in the dark everything still looks beautiful. I've never thought of that, and this morning I couldn't help crack a smile over the beauty that surrounded me on my morning drive. I've made the same commute for 8 years, but today was one of the first times I've ever felt blessed for having to drive that distance. Also, I'm trying spend less time glued to monitors (tv, compy, cellular) and more time outside. I've even started reading outside when I can. Nature can do marvelous things to the human spirit.

Happiness won't come knocking on your door everyday, most times you'll have to get out and hunt it down.