In addition to running The Smile Project, yours truly works full time for an amazing education nonprofit. I absolutely love my job, my colleagues, and so on, but when our executive director said our (virtual) office would be closed last Friday, I immediately wondered how I would spend that time.
That’s what encouraged me to turn to The Smile Project community on Instagram. I was curious to hear from others about what makes a day great. These are your thoughts and words, slightly edited and reorganized in the name of poetry. Thank you for allowing me to share them:
Waking up early enough to catch the sunrise
Sleeping in and not setting an alarm
The perfect day starts with a healthy breakfast
My perfect day is eating raw cookie dough and never changing out of my pajamas
Drinking coffee and reading a good book
My favorite comfy clothes outfit
Three words: scary movie marathon
Spending time with my partner
Spending time with my best friend
Spending time with my family
Spending time by myself
Finishing a big project at work
Definitely not going to work
Catching up on my favorite television shows
Rock climbing
Fishing
Hiking
Going to the gym
Feeling stronger and happier than I did the day before
Good people, good food, good weather, no stress, and happy vibes
Trying a new recipe for dinner
Eating one of my favorite comfort meals
Coffee
Sweet tea
A glass of wine
Lots and lots of laughter
My baby sleeping through the night
Saying “I love you” and meaning it
Hearing “I love you” and knowing they mean it
Another chance to get it right...to do the right thing
I read through people’s responses, smiling at the marvelous inconsistencies of what each of us finds inherently beautiful. I realized it could all be summed up by this answer: Doing all of the things that make YOU happy.
Our perfect days don’t look the same. Heck, our own definition of a perfect day probably looks different each week. But if we can focus on what makes us happy and keep the memory there, maybe, we’ll build a lifetime of really, really, wonderful days.
Love always,
Liz