What makes you smile? This is not just a question to start a conversation between us (although I am good with that as well), but an opportunity for you to tune into yourself. We are often good at knowing what makes us unhappy, but what makes you happy? Or content? Or calm?

I do not doubt that if I asked you what made you unhappy, you could give me a list starting with COVID, going to politics to family, friends, financial issues and then who knows from there? But that was not the question. What makes you happy? Not ecstatic, but happy. Not even Happy, but just happy. When you tune in, what creates that warm, fuzzy feeling? What brings a small smile to your face?

This is a theme that I return to over and over because it is so important, yet so easily overlooked. We are so busy of taking care of, well, everything, that we do not take care of ourselves. I am now going to make this an even bigger challenge: what makes you smile and is a healthy choice for you? No excessive drugs/alcohol, food, sex or buying things. No addictive behavior. No chasing a high, but merely a small moment of joy.

Every day, give yourself at least 15 minutes of warm, fuzzy happy time. Just for you. You are not taking anything away from anyone by doing so, In fact, you are actually increasing your ability to help others because you actually have more to give since you are no longer empty. You are worth spending at least 15 minutes each day (and probably a whole lot more).

You. Are. Worth. It.