As I grow I notice how the world around me impacts how I carry myself. I notice that fear anticipates fear and anger causes pain and that happy times don’t have to be a fleeting as I once thought they were.

That said, Ive spent a lot of time in my life waiting for shoes to drop and while they sometimes do, waiting for them and putting myself in the place of fearing them doesn’t make those things any easier when they happen. So lately I’ve been trying to live in the good, and while certain things around all of us have certainly made that hard – I’ve noticed that, over all, I’m a lot happier than I used to be and so I want to take some time to reflect on that.

Quick recap —

Last week I was frustrated. I was angry at what was happening in the world, noticing that the things we value don’t align with the way we go about achieving them and because of that I decided to therapeutically list all the things that irritated me (that had nothing to do with politics.) But for all the things that frustrate me – there are a million more that give me hope and allow me to realize how truly blessed my life is. So in the spirit of positivity, here’s a list of 100 things that make me smile – and hopefully, one or two will make you smile too.

100 things that make me smile (to smile about)

1. The sun when it shines through a window in the morning
2. State fairs (community traditions)
3. Friends who hype each other up both in person and online
4. That look a guy (or person) gets in a rom-com when the girl (or person) walks in the room
5. The air on mountain tops
6. When someone smiles with their whole body
7. The way dogs look at people when they’ve been away from each other all day
8. How school kids announce “it’s snowing!”
9. Really big lego sculptures
10. Babies in fancy outfits
11. When someone tries to say “bubbles” in an angry tone
12. A drink with friends
13. Random FaceTime or phone calls from the people I love
14. An iced drink on a hot day
15. Goosebumps during a beautiful song
16. Secure men that do spa days
17. A blanket fresh out the dryer
18. A new flavor
19. The smell before it rains
20. Those square scooter things from gym class
21. An epic soundtrack
22. Books with annotations (notes in margins)
23. The first day of school
24. Chocolate
25. Curious people
26. To-do lists with checked boxes
27. First dates
28. A good cup of coffee
29. Balloons
30. How the air changes from the start of a hike to the end
31. Water from a natural source
32. A packed stadium
33. Summer concerts
34. A good story from someone older than me
35. A beautiful woman (all women are beautiful)
36. A handsome man (all men are handsome)
37. Someone who exists outside the norm
38. Someone who is self assured or confident
39. Fried Oreos
40. Fried pickles
41. The smell and feel of well worn books
42. The horizon line across an ocean
43. Wondering where the rainbow actually ends
44. How someone’s eyes light up when they talk about something they’re passionate about
45. A dream deferred
46. Dancing
47. The smell of cigarettes and spearmint
48. Kangaroos
49. Really massive animals
50. Idioms
51. A hand on the shoulder
52. Silence in otherwise crowded spaces
53. Really loud laughers
54. Geodes
55. The realization that nature is so much more powerful than we can even comprehend
56. Tv show fandoms
57. That moment when a student clicks with the lesson
58. Class clowns
59. Gummy bears
60. A baby’s laugh
61. The fist hug after a long time away
62. The first step into a place that feels like home
63. “thinking of you” messages
64. Tacos
65. Food from a truck
66. That single moment where a stranger becomes a friend
67. Paying it forward
68. Backflips
69. The first step after you see an extremely daunting staircase
70. My first car
71. Watching someone reach for their dreams
72. Making firsts in your final forever relationship
73. Clocks that chime
74. Pocket watches and walkie-talkies
75. A kids movie that was clearly written to make adults laugh
76. Watching someone you love grow up and realize their worth
77. A turkey sandwich
78. Getting lost and finding your way home
79. Driving without the gps
80. Silly hairstyles that used to be popular
81. A worn photograph in a leather wallet
82. A notification from someone you admire
83. The bravery of standing up for someone else -no matter the cost
84. The first episode of a show you’ve watched a dozen times
85. Harmonies in a song
86. Koi fish
87. Waterfalls
88. Old timey burger joints and diners
89. Guitar and drum solos
90. Acapella groups
91. Science fairs
92. Hand written letters
93. Dad jokes
94. Seeing someone in the stands cheering you on in a sporting event
95. Video games
96. Church hymns
97. The starting line of a race
98. Shaped jello
99. Fruit fresh off a tree
100. You