Happiness is a Choice

As Christmas quickly approaches, my days continue to get better and better. Last week, Monday was one of the best days I've had in a long time. Friday, again, was fantastic. Yesterday was probably the best of them all.

When I stop to wonder why these days have been so freaking happy, there are a few different ideas that flow from one side of my mind to the other. 

1. I have friends. Hold on. I actually have real friends. As in, people I'd want to spend extended amounts of time with. Half the people I interact with on any given day I'd gladly trade the world for. People never cease to amaze me. Each person, every friend is so genuinely unique and beautiful that I can't help but be astounded by them. 

2. God is amazing. He's given me such a sense of grace and personal growth this year. In every single thing I've done, I've found myself at another stretch for personal growth and lasting happiness. He's the best. I mean, what a boss he is. I love. 

3. I've kind of calmed down! I used to be ever-stressed about everything. Everything. Whether it be school or band or life or people or whatever. I've really gotten to a point where I do stress out, but not in excess. For example, I have my HH project due tomorrow. And what am I doing?
I'm writing on my blog. Because this is important as well, and I've worked my butt off lately.

Joy is such a state of mind. I know for a fact I was happy on Friday because I woke up laughing. Really, I woke up giggling. Which, I mean, sounds like an absolutely ridiculous thing to do, but my dreams have an awesome sense of humor.

I think happiness really is a choice. Every day, there are people around me who choose sadness. They don't look on the bright side, or help themselves. I'm not just saying that for meanness.

I went to go see "Of Mice and Men" yesterday. Which was amazing. The cast and crew.. Seriously, I'm telling you guys, theatre folk are the best people in the world.

I'll make a list, now, of things that make me happy.

-peppermint hot chocolate
-laughing when I'm not supposed to be
-french-tipped nails with glitter
-being expressive
-theatre people
-excellent Stumbles on stumbleupon
-getting random texts
-looking at my Christmas tree
-wrapping presents
-really huge words
-things that smell delicious
-excellent style
-feeling good about myself without makeup

and that's just a few! I suppose I might say that I'm one of those people that are easy to please.

Make a choice to be happy this weekend. Find five things that make you happy, and do them as much as you possibly can. As long as they're not like "killing people" or "burning books."
You'll see an effect. I promise. 

Of Mice and Me

My school has the best high school theatre department in Michigan, and also the world. 

We have wonderful actors, directors, tech, makeup artists.. everything. 

Which I am, unfortunately, not a part of. 

Yet. 

This weekend, they'll be showing Of Mice and Men, which I've heard is quite a tearjerker. However, you should go, even if you don't watch sad things usually, as we have, as previously stated, the most amazing theatre department in the world. 

So props to them (no pun intended) for being amazing people, as well as amazing actors. 

I'll be there Saturday, selling tickets, since I made the unintelligent mistake of not joining the cast or crew. I assure you, it will not happen again. 

I emphasize that these people are amazing for several reasons. 

1. They are. 
2. People need to be aware that these Broadway-esque performances are not done by divas. 
3. They're the coolest people and deserve fame and fortune. 
4. They make me feel better about myself and slap sense into me when I become vulnerable and insecure. 
5. They make my day with a few words, texts, or facebooks likes. 

So there you go. Go watch "Of Mice and Men" this weekend. 

And no, I'm not in charge of advertisement for the show, either. 

Theatre is good for the soul. It's basically a proven fact. There's something about the lights, and the stage, and the accents, and the makeup. It's truly an amazing thing. 

I experienced this in 5th grade for the first time, when I saw Godspell at the same highschool I'm attending now. 

I've experienced it with the lights on Broadway, and in too many places to name. 

It's a gorgeous thing. If one doesn't allow themselves to feel the theatre, and to experience it fully, they're selling themselves short. 

I promise, even if the show is about something really sad, which this isn't necessarily, it'll bring joy to your life. 

So go see this show. 

It doesn't matter if you live in some other state. Plane rides are fun. Like theatre people. 

Brighten your own day by allowing the actors to. They'll live up to it, I promise. 

The Warmth of the Cold

Here in Flint, the air is becoming even colder. The temperature is going to take some dramatic nosedives soon, as the ever-reliable weather ball tells us. 

Last week, we had our first snow. 

I usually dislike winter the most out of all the seasons, but this year is different. 

The cold is comforting to me, like "Oh, Christmas really is coming soon to deliver me from the stress and worries of school!" 

No, but really. I can't wait. 

Today I put up my Christmas decorations. Don't ask me why it's taken me so long to get around to it. There really is no acceptable answer. Christmas is the jolliest time of the year, so there's no point in waiting to celebrate, right? 

The Christmas tree is standing in the archway between 2 of our rooms. This means that my family can now get a glimpse of the tree on just about every room on the main floor. It's covered in lights and ornaments that look like they were made by a two year old, because they were. 

Our banister is wrapped in two kinds of tinsel, and holly. Poinsettias are everywhere. Nativity scene out, Advent calendar up. 

It's Christmas. Why not. 

All these things are so incredibly heartwarming. In fact, they're so heartwarming that the warmth is spreading from my heart to the rest of my organs, to my muscles, to my face, to my life. 

It may be getting colder, but it's also getting so much warmer, everywhere one might look. 

The beauty of Christmas is ever-present even in Flint. 

Even in the worst city in America in sense of crime, we see the Salvation Army people ringing their bells. Yes, sometimes they give us dirty looks when we put in change. 

Not the point. 

This Christmas inside me is visible everywhere. And this joy- this is what Christmas is all about! Yes, it's about Jesus, but what did he bring, and what did he want us to have more than anything? 

Allow me to make this crystal clear. 

Jesus wanted us to be happy. 

That's why He was born. 

That's why He died. 

That's why He rose. 

He did it for us, so that we could have the greatest joy of all- not just the joy of Christmas, but the joy of eternal life. 

He is the warmth in the cold of Michigan winters.