Smile – that’s all

Let’s get right to the point. COVID-19 sucks. This situation is difficult. It’s very ambiguous on how we’ll respond and adapt. I love everyone’s intentions about helping out. Whether it’s “how to work from home” or “best practices for social distancing” or something else, I truly love how everyone is trying to offer their assistance. But let’s be honest – this situation can make us feel lonely and isolated and individual and all by ourselves and separate from everyone. Even if we are quarantined in someplace with others or 100% alone…we all need to be happy. And there are so many ways to think about being happy.

My goal in this post is to simply offer up what makes me smile, and be happy, during these crazy and ambiguous times.

·       Dogs – pet them. Enjoy their fur. And LOVE how their tail wags in appreciation!

·       Cats – not for me…other people like them…I don’t…but enjoy them anyway.

·       Food V1– find your favorite restaurant. Order food. Eat it. Enjoy totally. Repeat.

·       Food V2– find your second favorite. And 3rd. And 4th.  And 5th. Repeat above.

·       Food V3 – eat healthy. No matter what you feel about V1 and V2…make good choices!!!

·       TV – hate to say it…but enjoy the shows you like and even the ones you don’t like.

·       Commercials – I dislike 90% of them…but enjoy the few you love. WASSSSUUUUP!!!

·       Movies – same as above…find those favorite movies or clips that make you smile. Or find a show like the Tiger King that forces you into one opinion or another. Watch them repeatedly. Share with others. 

·       Streaming – so much here…find something that makes you think or laugh or smile or debate (see Tiger King above). There is literally unlimited content to stream…which also means unlimited smiles to create even though some shows totally suck. Find what’s fun!!!

·       Music – listen to your favorite bands over and over and over and over again...then ask your friends what THEY like and add those bands to your playlist. Explore. Experiment. Listen to anything. Basically, come up with your own “playlist” across everything.

·       Music V2 – now try to expand your world beyond friend's suggestions…find new music BEYOND bands you know. Don’t work with existing Pandora or Apply Music or other suggestions only.

·       Exercise – just do it. Doesn’t’ matter whether its cardio or time or something else. Just do it.

·       Sleep- get enough of it. Waking up after a great night of sleep is totally awesome.

·       Walks – get outside and enjoy the weather…if even if sucks with rain or cold or humidity.

·       Water – drink it or kayak on it or paddle board on it or swim in it or surf on it. Water rules!

·       Fellow employees – do NOT talk about work…just check in with people you enjoy spending time with in difficult client situations.

·       Family – love them like we love our pets…UNCONDITIONALLY. Enough said.

·       Friends – there are SO many ways to connect with friends. Figure out your own social distancing rules. But ALWAYS find time to spend with friends.

·       Random movies – I’m watching one right now…good distraction from all of the BS that COVID brings…just temper your binge watching over time.

·       Vacation – I’m bummed I missed my annual “guys trip” to Mexico this Spring. But I can recall the great memories I have of our past trips…and future trips. Which makes me happy.

·       Wrigley – I’ve lived in Seattle for +25 years. I’ve been to 100+ games to see my Cubbies play at Wrigley Field. And I bring many of my Seattle friends AND meet my Illinois friends. Insert a HUGE smile here…and crossed fingers that we can meet in the bleachers again soon.

·       Travel – maybe limited with all of this COVID stuff. Walk anywhere. Drive to other locations. Be safe. But get out of your current situation. 

·       Greenlake – love my walks around Greenlake. Relaxing. Fun. Fresh air. People watching. Find your own place to walk and think and smile.

·       Seattle – City. Mountains. Ocean. Lakes. Islands. Amazing!!

·       Pacific Northwest – take the Seattle comments and multiply by 10x.

·       Memories – close your eyes. Think about what makes you happy. Smile.

·       Smiles – I can’t state how happy I am when I see a smile from someone else!!!! Share them. Enjoy them. Repeat them. 

I’m sure I’ve missed so many others. Please remind me what else I should be thinking about. Hope you all are safe and happy and healthy.

And enjoy finding what makes you SMILE always.