Before sitting down to write today, I grabbed this “Wordsmith Deck” that my dear friend Cassy-Anne bought me for my birthday last year… or maybe it was for Christmas… inconsequential. Cass and I were wrapping up a phone call as I turned on the laptop. I told her I was going to pick a card to write from today.

I pulled a card and kind of pouted at the prompt. I said, “Well that’s crazy. I’m not doing that.” In retort, Cassy-Anne said, “I bet you could.” I’m not one to walk away from a bet. So, my dear readers, here are 50 things that make me smile.

1. Coffee
2. Watching Peanut do anything (yes, even chew the couch)
3. French fries
4. Talking to my parents
5. Reading
6. Writing (particularly with a pencil)
7. Sunshine
8. Super-hot days
9. The Office
10. Alf
11. Schitt’s Creek
12. “The Jason Ellis Show” on SiriusXM
13. The Golden Girls
14. Pretzels
15. Spending time with my uncles
16. Public speaking (put a mic in my hand and I shine)
17. Halo room spray (recipe in The Chemical-Free Home for House Keeping by Melissa Poepping)
18. Giving and getting gifts
19. Shoes (the higher the better)
20. Fresh-clean sheets
21. Organized cabinets
22. Clear surfaces (like counter tops and the dining room table)
23. The feeling of bunny paws resting on me (very treasured feeling)
24. Carefully curated music… especially when I can sing along
25. Planning classes and workshops for my wellness team
26. Naps (bonus points for bed-naps)
27. Fresh flowers
28. Watching squirrels play on the lawn
29. Bethenny Frankel’s Instagram stories
30. Gabby Bernstein’s voice
31. Yoga with Adriene
32. Talking with my friend Adrienne (the OG from junior high!)
33. Any time spent with or any memory conjured of my Megan
34. Our incredible Rabbit Rescue team
35. Making plans and changing lives with the aforementioned Cassy-Anne
36. Cozy sweatshirts
37. Studying with my Mastermind squad
38. Tattoos (once they are healed… I don’t often smile while getting tattooed)
39. The color purple (as in things that are that color, not necessarily the book… but the book is important, too)
40. Challenging myself
41. The morning
42. Quiet
43. Being in the company of confident people
44. Fuzzy slippers
45. The aromas of jasmine, geranium, rose… I can go on and on with these…
46. Watching someone skateboard
47. Connecting with people… having authentic dialogue
48. Games
49. When people say thank you and give recognition
50. My readers, the dedicated and the newly-arrived

There you have it… and I think it’s time for you to write your list of 50 things that make you smile! Bonus points if you write it with someone who makes you smile.

Much love.