Keeping a Reminder of Happiness Handy

Take Pen to Paper: Edition 91

Jun 20, 2024

Greetings, my good friends!

In past editions of this newsletter, I’ve shared how I actively search for glimmers on my daily walks (Pen to Paper, Edition 43). I have learned to expect to see something that makes me smile.

But what about the unexpected?

How often do you see something unexpected that immediately makes you smile?

In this newsletter:

Creating a positive outlook.
The challenge of capturing the unexpected.
Creating a happy place to keep your smiles.

Gratitude Helps Create a Positive Outlook

It’s worth repeating, and I speak from first hand experience, creating a gratitude habit helped me cultivate a positive outlook on life.

When we acknowledge what we have to be grateful for, it becomes easier to recognize all we have, the large and the small. Embracing gratitude for what we have, helps our gratitude grow and changes our mindset.

A positive outlook on life should have you expecting good things, like smiles, to come your way. You know they exist. It’s a matter of keeping your eyes open for them.

Capturing The Good Stuff in Your Life

I don’t remember when I got my first phone with a camera. I’m not an easy match for new technology, but I soon fell in love with the convenience. My phone became a constant companion. I found it easy to spot things to snap a picture of.

In 2018, I started an Instagram account dedicated almost exclusively to sparks of good (IG @tinyteapottales). For the longest time, I posted daily. I’ve slacked off a little, but I still aim for daily. The more I looked for picture-worthy goodness, the easier it was to see it (just like gratitude).

The result of all my photo-taking is a ten-year collection of goodness.

Twice a week, I scroll through my photos for a picture to accompany this newsletter and my journaling newsletter, From The Pen’s Nib. Think of all the goodness I get to relive when I do this!

However, the true challenge is to capture the unexpected that makes us smile - the sights that we are not actively seeking.

I catch myself appreciating the moment, smiling, and moving on. Wouldn’t it be nice to capture those moments and relive them when I want?

It’s more than being camera-ready. I have my phone with me, not because I expect a call or text. I’m not constantly scrolling. I try to be ready. Yet, there are still the unexpected moments I let pass.

One reason is our fear of being judged. “Why is she taking a picture of our flowers?” or “Why is she bent over in the street getting a worm' s-eye view?” (Check my Instagram account for that one).

We shouldn’t care what others are thinking. As long as we don’t take pictures that allow the identification of others without their permission, it’s all good. As an extra precaution, my posts are all about good and positivity. If my neighbor does see their hydrangea in bloom on my account (highly unlikely), it would make them smile.

Still, when I took today’s featured picture, I hesitated. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was 50 yards away from me. I was stopped anyway, and yet, I hesitated. Now, I’m very happy I took the picture.

Take the time to capture the unexpected good that makes you smile.

A Place to Keep Your Smiles

The Breathe publication, issue 64, April 2024, outlines the benefits of creating and keeping reminders of what makes you smile in a “sunshine folder.”

Creating a sunshine folder on your phone or computer, in a scrapbook, or in a box gives you access to a bit of positivity whenever you need it. Elizabeth Bennett explains that a sunshine folder can boost your mood, improve your mental well-being, and even increase your self-confidence by connecting us to positivity and confirming who we are.

When I see the picture I took of the Wienermobile, two thoughts pop into my head.

The Oscar Mayer Wiener song that everyone my age can sing and brings a smile to my face.
I pushed aside my fear of what others would think of seeing someone my age stop to take such a picture.

Because I have the picture, I can revisit those happy, positive thoughts any time I want.

We don’t always get positive feedback. Luckily for us, we can work to provide some of our own. A sunshine folder can remind us of the good in our lives, as well as the good we have done. It can incorporate representations of our values, strengths, and accomplishments.

You may already have a sunshine folder, or maybe it’s time for you to create one.

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

Want to know more about the Wienermobile? Check out their website. I got hungry for a hotdog reading the favorite hotdog toppings of each “hotdogger”.
Read about the Oscar Mayer wiener jingle and take a look at the vintage ad here.
I am grateful I developed a habit of journaling gratitude.
It’s good to take the time to notice the small things that make us happy and find ways to carry them with us.
Breathe magazine has quickly become my favorite publication. I read it from cover to cover, which is saying a lot because it has no ads. The articles are one to three pages long. It comes in paper or digital form.
It’s good to remember you are rarely being watched (unless you have children with you), so as long as you are behaving ethically and responsibly pursue what makes you smile.
And this video clip will make you smile. I started smiling at the child’s enthusiasm, but watch it to the end.

Thank you for reading. This week, be ready when the unexpected makes you smile.

Until next time,

💚

Susan

Do you keep a sunshine folder? How is it organized? Leave a comment and tell me about it. I need all the organization tips I can get.

Take Pen to Paper