Counting Smiles – Lessons Learned Edition

This week was a trying one, but I did it! Let me count the smiles and lessons learned from this week that helped to get me to glorious Friday:

• Started the week off with my first “Angel” volunteer shift at Give Kids the World Village. I spent my time in the food service sector, and while I bagged cookies like it was nobody’s business, I may have messed up the cash register metrics a tiny bit (like I rang up an order for 546 people instead of 6…only off by a little). In all due fairness to myself, math was never my strongest area. I made up for what I lacked though with my mac & cheese and chocolate milk sales. I was asked if I was in college by my “boss” who was approximately 7 years younger than me…when I graduated in 2008. Lessons learned: I am still bad at math. Despite my Florida tanning- sans sunscreen (don’t tell the doctor!), I still look like I’m 20. I still eat like I am 7 and therefore have no problem bonding with children over intense food discussions. Lastly, at the end of the day I am incredibly blessed, and have no reason not to smile.
• Had to travel to Tampa on business. While there, got to spend time getting to know coworkers a little more and found it incredibly enlightening to learn more about people I work with every day, but rarely get to see face to face. While there, I consumed no ice cream, although had two cookies every day (thank you Hampton Inn for putting out warm cookies in the evening for Stephanie). Found an incredible Mexican restaurant, ate delicious food, didn’t work out, and gained only two pounds. Lessons learned: spending time getting to know people is an investment that is almost always worthwhile. When we know one another more as a human being instead of a name attached to emails or a voice over the phone, the respect and desire to support each other increases tenfold. Also, worrying about every.single.calorie and bite taken is soooo not worth it. Having a few days here and there to eat whatever and do whatever makes gym time easier when it comes, and the food that is being eaten as a treat way better.
• The Republican National Convention starts Monday of next week in Tampa, Fl. Hurricane Isaac is coincidentally arriving on Monday as well. Do I believe in signs? Absolutely. Lessons learned: Mother Nature for Obama 2012. Karma is a …  hurricane.

Lessons learned this week: Joy can be found in the simplest things in life, if we choose to see it. Everything has a positive. Lessons, similarly, can be learned from the simplest of moments. Keep your eyes open, see the good, find a reason to smile and celebrate life daily. Life is too short not to. And if all else fails, chocolate milk and cookies can put a smile on just about anyone’s face.

Happy Friday! I’d love to hear some of the things that brought smiles to your face this week! Feel free to share below or link back so that I can read your posts!