Thursday, January 7, 2010

What Makes You Smile?

Before you had a job, before you worried about paying rent or building your resume or meeting a deadline, what did you do for fun? Did you play baseball? Video games? An instrument?

I ran cross country and played the violin. I try to do both of those things still, but don't always have time unfortunately. I find that when I'm not able to do both of those things with some regularity, I feel a little less happy. Part of that is probably the endorphins from running, but I think more of it is the freedom in being able to do something for myself - not for a paycheck, or for gaining experience, or any any other number of reasons we do things that aren't our first choice - but just for me.

Even when we do work, and have bills, and responsibilities we don't necessarily want, we still have the ability to do something for ourselves everyday. Turning off your morning alarm on your birthday, watching tv for a few extra minutes, eating food you like even if it's not in your diet. Be selfish, do something that is going to make you smile.