Oh happy day!

In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not simply endured.
--President Gordon B. Hinckley

My sophomore year of high school was extremely hard. I was taking hard classes, decided to play another sport, joined yearbook, and was doing early morning seminary. I struggled, and most of the people around me knew it. That summer, going into my junior year, I did a young women's personal progress goal to not complain for a week. Since it was harder than I expected, I kept working at it long after the week was up. It became a personal goal of mine to stop complaining, to look at the positive. Despite taking three AP classes in addition to everything mentioned before, my junior year was a much easier year. Not that my classes were any less demanding or my alarm sounded any later, but I wasn't complaining about it. I was excited for the opportunities I had to work with and learn from different people. I was learning (not cramming) in my classes. I wasn't complaining near as much. I was happier.

That small summer goal absolutely changed me as a person. I realized that life gives you what you bring to it. The old adage, "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade" still stands on solid ground. The next year--my senior year--I started working at Sees Candies. The motto at Sees is "Samples, Smiles, and Service." I loved that job (not only for the chocolate) because my objective was to do everything in my power to make the customers happy. It wasn't usually too hard to do either (seeing as how we were giving them free samples and filling up their bags with more of it). I loved greeting customers, giving a favorite sample or two, packing their boxes of favorites, and sending them on their way. I have thought a lot about how little it takes to make someone smile or feel better or become comfortable when approached with the right ingredients.

I make a point to make the most of life and my circumstances. Despite the fact that life is definitely not easy, "men [still] are that they might have joy." There is so much to be happy about when we choose to! Blue skies, crisp winds, a smile, a phone call, a rediscovered scripture, a budding tree, an honest compliment, a Sunday nap, an unexpected twist in the road, a good laugh, a (lived in) messy room, leftovers in the fridge...

Today I am exceptionally happy and wanted to share the cheer with you. I am constantly amazed at the blessings and opportunities in my life, for the good people the Lord puts in my path. I am one dang lucky girl and I just can't stop smiling about it!