smiling

To do before I die #1

Dear Optimists,

Last night, I was thinking about what I want to do before I die. All sorts of crazy things came to mind: Scooba diving in Australia, bungee jumping, roadtrips with my future children, drive a Ferrari F40 (red, of course)(childhood dream); all things that won’t happen within a reasonable time frame.

Then I remembered.

When I was a kid, I tried building an igloo. It took forever and I never finished.

In other words, one of the things I want to do before I die is to gather friends and build that godforsaken igloo.

Building an igloo – have you ever tried that? Any pro tips?

Love,
Nadia.

P.S. Typical me realising such thing now the snow’s gone…

Early Morning Horror

Dear Optimists,

There’s nothing like watching a horror movie in the early morning as I eat breakfast before work. Here it was, 6:30 A.M. and my television ends up on one of my favorites, 28 Days Later. I ate Cheerios with little banana pieces as I watched bloody, disease-ridden people try to eat other people.

What a morning.

Love,
Den

Guest Post Wednesday: A Thank-You email

Dear Optimists,

You might remember Carolynn the Dyer, the lovely lady who won our 100th post contest?

She won a hand-painted one-of-a-kind watercolour by me, Nadia. Not too long ago we received a Thank-You email from her, which reminded us why we do this (just like every single comment from you guys reminds us!):

Dear Nadia and Den,

I got the drawing in the mail today. What timing! You see, I’m in charge of a major activity at church tonight, and just this morning I realized that about half the things I thought were completed hadn’t even been started yet.

It’s been Stress Central Station over here ever since.

Anyway, I was running around like a squirrel on entirely too much caffeine, going to dash off to the store for (yet another) something I forgot, when I heard the mailman at the door–with a package. Package! Who doesn’t love that? Better yet, it had your picture in it, all smiling and lovely. It got me to stop, breathe, and just… smile.

Thank you, you lovely people!

Love,
Carolynn

It’s prettier in real life. We’re less orange-y.

Thank you, Carolynn.
Nadia & Den.

Guest Post Wednesday: Everything’s gonna be alright

Dear Optimists,

Today wasn’t such a great day. I found myself worried about money and my studies, plus it was cold outside; you know the kind of day.

But then I decided that I was gonna get my chin up and enjoy the rest of the day (even though it was hailing – in the middle of our Summer!?), so I put on some happy tunes. Before I knew of it I was dancing around my room! Like an idiot!

But you know what? Now I’m smiling and ended up having a good day!

With a song called Everything’s Gonna Be Alright playing on loop and no-one to laugh at me, why wouldn’t I be?

Enjoy the smaller things and keep smiling and dancing!

Love,
Julie.

Trick your mind into happiness

Dear Optimists,

On bad days it’s hard to find the face that suits your mood.

Some walk around showing their exact emotions, tainting others with their negativity. Others put on a fake smile and no one will ever know what exactly they feel.

Obviously, it’s important not to hide your true feelings – if you’re feeling blue; you’re “allowed” to display it.

At the same time, it’s tough to be around really negative people that can’t see anything optimistic about a dandelion growing on the side of the motorway (as a certain someone).

Studies have shown that not only will a smile affect others around you; it’ll also affect your own mood! Simply put: you trick the brain into believing you’re actually happy!

So, on a gloomy day, wouldn’t it be better to just smile and laugh about how easy it is to bluff your own brain?

Give us a smile in the comments!

Love,
Nadia.

PS. Big thanks to everybody who gave me great advice when I was feeling low.

Puddles

Dear Optimists,

I had been working up the “courage” to go outside to soak up some sun and go for a walk. It was definitely for the better – an Optimists told me so herself.

As I walked, I kept on thinking about what makes me feel like this; why do I feel all alone when I’ve got such good friends and such awesome readers that helps me look at the positive in life?

My smile was upside down, even as I kept reminding myself of all the love I receive daily. That was until I saw him.

You could tell he was happy deep within himself. The cold weather made me shake a little; it had been raining all night and the roads were paved in puddles. He looked at one and without thinking jumped right in, splashing water everywhere.

As I walked by, he didn’t stop. He looked so happy.

I started humming “Bye, Bye Blackbird” while jumping in the puddle next to him with a HUGE smile on my face.

Love,
Nadia.

Back in the game – sort of

Dear Optimists,

First of all, thank you for all the get-well wishes, the hugs and kisses. I hope I didn’t transmit a virtual cold or something to you.

But Jesus Christ, have I been ill. It’s like I caught everything possible. It started with a cold in the ears (seriously, that’s a thing… I expected my ears to sneeze or something interesting), then migraine, regular cold and ended with the flu.

People tend to do the weirdest stuff when they’re ill, don’t they? The days that should’ve been spend writing my dissertation I ended up hugging the toilet. I quickly figured out that tiles are very uncomfortable to lie on (surprise!), and ended up getting intimate with a bucket on the sofa under the covers instead. Buckets are way more comfy to rest your head on when you fall asleep…Luckily, I had my boyfriend to take care of me, Mum was there when he was working, and close friends were ringing me every now and then to check up on me. I was on the verge of dying.

The fever is now gone and I’m starting to feel better. Or so I thought. When I looked myself in the mirror this morning, I saw this:

My face looks like a water balloon and I have a cronic duck face (like the ones you see on 14 years old girls on Facebook) – I laugh everytime I come near a mirror. I’m actually smiling on that picture, can’t you tell?

I can’t be the only pathetic, frail sick person out there, am I?

Love,
Nadia.

Fresh air

Dear Optimists,

One of the things that can make me happier is a stroll in the park – just get out there, suck in some fresh air (or polluted, depending on what city you live in) and clear my mind.

Lately, I can’t seem to find the ambition to get up from the couch and do this. Hell, TV-shows can make me happy too and keep me entertained, right? But television only works for a short period of time.

My boyfriend’s a smoker (eekk!) and sometimes he needs to go buy cigs – always when all the nearby stores are closed, except the farthest shop. Obviously.
He always talks me into getting off my arse and walking with him hand in hand. I always complain loudly, until we’re halfway.

Then I realise I’m finally up and off the couch. And I smile.

Now, get up and go for a walk!

Love,
Nadia.