Affiliate links may be used in this post, including Amazon affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link. All the opinions expressed are my own.
Don’t Let the World Change Your Smile
Yesterday my aunt sent me this article, Reasons I Have Smiled That Were Not “to Look Prettier” by Kristen Mulrooney and it gave me pause. The world in the winter seems cold and harsh, add too it the last two years and sometimes it is hard to smile.
I pulled out my notebook and I took five minutes to write down my own “reasons I have smiled lately.” I urge you to do the same, I promise you that at the end you will be smiling and if you have a touch of the winter blues you will definitely be feeling better.
Reasons That I Have Smiled Lately
First Snowfall
Because it is finally winter here and it snowed last week. Ok, it was only a few flakes but it was still snow.
Because I received a handmade card in the mail from my grandkids and it included drawings of us together and frankly as stick figures go I looked pretty cute.
Cosy House In the Winter
Because I LOVE my new house. Even with the quirky kitchen, and the oven that burns everything and makes it difficult to bake and the cooktop that has the hottest burners, that even if you turn them on low, cause whatever you are cooking to boil. Don’t get me started on the bathrooms. Even with all of this I love our house. God gave me what I always wanted, a little cottage that is comfy, and cosy and is the place I will call home until I am called home.
Because my new neighbors have lived next door since my house was built and they know every owner, every room and every plant in my yard. They solved the mystery of the master bedroom, which is the largest room in the entire house, with windows on three walls, a set of French doors, sky lights and even a sink which has since been removed. It turns out the original owner was an artist of some note, he designed and built the house and the master bedroom is actually his studio. When he became ill they removed the sink and put in a built in desk and called the room the master bedroom.
pinecone in the snow
Because I have always loved pinecones now I live in a house and a town that is surrounded by trees that drop pinecones like little gifts from Mother Nature every day, all day in my yard, on the patio, on the driveway and everywhere else. I will never run out of pinecones for my wreaths, garland or any other craft that I want to make. They also get me outside every day for a little exercise when I have to pick them up so that we do not get a fine from the HOA.
Because I have my own family of deer that visit every morning and every evening. Last week they were munching on my plants in the morning and sleeping under a tree in the evening.
Because my three pups and their antics give me something to smile about everyday. Chasing squirrels, rolling in deer poop, jockeying with one another for the best spot on their electric blanket, coming in from the cold for a snuggle.
Madame du Pompadour by Nancy Mitford
Because I went to the library and got the chair closest to the fireplace. Then they had every book I was looking for.
Because every day I start the day with a steaming cup of chocolate.
These are just a few of the things that have made me smile lately, what has made you smile?
Hot Chocolate Break While Enjoying Winter Fun
Reasons to Smile
- Smiling Improves Your Mood
- Smiling Relieves Stress
- Smiling Reduces Pain
- Smiling Helps You Stay Positive
- Smiling Helps Your Heart
- Smiling Help You Live Longer
These are just a few of the benefits of smiling, can you think of any others?
Family Fun in the Snow
I hope that you have a great day! Thank you so much for stopping by today friends, I appreciate you spending part of your day here.
Pin Me for Later
Victor Hugo Quote
You might also enjoy, 11 Ways to Beat The Winter Blues.
Cosy Season
Don’t forget you can also find Pinecones and Acorns on most social media sites, Facebook Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Or you can subscribe to the blog and get the posts in your mailbox.
13 Self-Care Ideas for Spring
10 Benefits of Walking, Valentine’s Day Gifts and More on Weekend Meanderings
5 Ways to Survive the Holidays
Wellness Wednesday: My Wellness Routine
Thank you for this post especially since the covid news is so depressing now. Your reasons to smile had me smiling!
What a lovely post! Congratulations on finding a home that you love. Thank you for sharing your smile-making catalysts. I find it hard to share my smile from behind a mask, but when I can smile at someone unmasked, they always smile in return, just as reading your article this morning is making me smile.
Thank you Marci, I would love to know what else is making you smile this week? Thank you for your lovely comment. These are difficult times and the little things make it better.
Well, since you asked, besides my family remaining healthy so far, I had a music lesson this week from my son-in-law and music lessons from me for my grandkids. (Via FaceTime) What goes around comes around. Listening to music makes me smile, playing music makes me smile, and my family members make me smile. I am very lucky.
Marci, this sounds wonderful! I love the idea of music lessons via face time. For about 8 months at the start of the pandemic my mother and sister and I would do yoga together ever night via zoom and we would have a family “cocktail party” of Fridays. Thank God for technology.
Stay healthy and enjoy your family. Music definitely makes me smile as do my family members. Have a wonderful day and thank you for sharing!
Lovely post, sharing your thoughts
Thank you May!
Deer are good company to have around.
They are indeed, mischievous and somewhat destructive but so beautiful.
They ate all of our tulip bulbs!
They are cute but are a pain in the butt.
I really needed an uplifting post like this today dear Elizabeth – I’ve been rather down, and smiling behind that darned mask is not working! I love your choices for smiling – and although I don’t have a library with a fireplace to visit, I do have one here at home in my own cottage (so glad you love yours,) where I can sit and smile, cozy and unmasked with several waiting books to read.
I had my annual ‘wellness check up’ today. Although I’ve yet to get relief for my herniated disc from last Friday’s injection, the remainder of me seems to be OK for an old gal, other than I gained a few pounds over Christmas – and no distance walking is possible yet with the nerve pain. I was instructed to cut out sugar and dairy, hey ho, never can eat what we really enjoy can we!!!!!
Is it OK for me to borrow your list of ‘Reasons to Smile’ please. I would love to share with granddaughter and some girlfriends?
Wildlife is back now it’s much colder, birds, squirrels everywhere, feeders requiring daily filling – haven’t seen our deer for some time though.
Was hoping for snow this coming weekend but it now looks doubtful – still time though as February is often tough down here.
Enjoy the rest of this week –
Hugs – Mary
Mary, I am so sorry that you do not have any relief in your back. Hopefully everything else with your wellness exam went well. I do not know anyone that has not gained a little weight over the holidays. Unfortunately you are at a disadvantage because you cannot walk. NO SUGAR OR DAIRY!!!!! I switched to almond/coconut milk years ago but if I couldn’t have my morning hot chocolate I do not know what I would do.
I would love for you to share this! And please ask your granddaughters and friends to add to it. I so enjoy knowing what makes others smile. It has become more and more apparent in the absence of travel, time with family and friends, goods, etc that we have to find joy in our own little world and it is the little things that bring the most. joy.
Take care my friend, hugs to you
Elizabeth, what a thought provoking post. I agree with you smiles are so important. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds
you, even if the stove or oven is not doing what you know it should be to bring the results that you are so hoping for.
Thank you for sharing, you always touch in on such special topics, I really enjoy reading what you have to say,
Katherine, thank you! I am working around the glitches, the good news is that so far I have not ruined too many things. I hope you found many things to smile about today! And thank you for reading the blog! Have a wonderful day.
I completely agree smiling is so important. Watching our pups and their antics makes us laugh outloud everyday.
They are gifts. I’d love living with all the pinecones you are surrounded by.
Cindy our pets are indeed gifts. No matter what kind of day the pets in our lives make it better. I would be happy to send you a box of pinecones!
Your post made me smile this morning!
Thank you! I appreciate that Linda.