The Reason Why I Smile

                This is a spontaneous post. I really should be doing homework but this concept just randomly shot through my thoughts. Mainly because I was listening to Avril Lavigne’s song Smile. Then as I started to write this post I had many different titles come to mind, You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson or Obsession by Sky Ferreira. The reason I have told you this is because what this idea goes along with a lot of song lyrics.

                Have you ever had a friend, or a boyfriend/girlfriend who makes you smile? Not just because they make you laugh, but they put a grin on your face. There is no reason you are sitting there smiling at this person like a fat kid at a buffet. But just the fact that they are with you puts a smile on your face. I have even found myself smiling when I think about specific friends. Not just because they are funny, or they make me laugh, but I have a smile out of gratitude for the fact that I am friends with this person. This has only happened to me a couple of times. Surprisingly it was not only a potential lover but a really good friend. When this has happened I have been caught smiling creepily and staring at someone. That usually freaks people out so be careful.

                The reasoning I thought of the title You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson was because whenever I am having a bad day or feeling a little depressed (which happens too much lately) I text or call a friend like this. Usually when I get a reply a smile breaks across my face. I can’t help it. I could not sit here and tell you exactly what it is that causes me to react like this. You might be sitting there telling me that I have a crush on this individual. But I will tell you that’s not it because I have done this with people I am not attracted to, if you are smelling what I am stepping in. I hope your picking what I am putting down.

                Now the reason I was thinking about the title of Obsession by Sky Ferreira is because when this does happen with a crush, and I know you agree with me, you want that person to become obsessed with you. Don’t deny the fact that you are a crazy person and you want to be loved. Wait, we all want that too. And when you become nearly obsessed with this person you want the same in return. For example; I am seriously in love with Kelly Clarkson and I want the same obsession in return. Ok I am kidding but kind of serious at the same time.

                The reason I chose the title of The Reason Why I Smile is because it is from the song that gave me this idea. And it lays it out beautifully. I want to know what makes you smile with your friends, crush, or significant other. I will start: My friend John Tanner, I smile because he and I are total opposites, but totally alike at the same time. He does not care what anyone else says or thinks about him, he is a true individual. Which is something I love in people.  Kaitlin McKinlay makes me smile because of the kind love she shares with everyone, even random strangers (even the BUM’s on the street that propose her). There are not enough loving people in this world anymore.  Allysann McKinlay makes me smile because of all the funny things we have done together in the past, present, and even things we have yet to so together. It is always nice to have a friend who will push you out of an airplane for fun. Danielle McKinlay makes me smile because of our secret romance we have had since I was 12. You were my first love. Jeff Otero makes me smile because he is someone you can talk to and no matter what he says to you, you always leave the conversation a happier person. He is just magic that way. Becca Lindsay makes me smile because she is always a genuinely happy person, her happiness is contagious. We need a lot more contagious happiness in our lives. Kelsi Webb makes me smile because she makes a great effort to make sure everyone around her is content. She is full of inspirational thoughts and she does a great job cutting my hair. Kelsi, you are totally awesome! Torie Wake makes me smile because although all of the hard trials she has had recently in her life she laughs at everything. Literally, everything. Her smile just makes you smile too. Jenna Shirley makes me smile because of how honest she is. If I am doing something she does not approve of, she will make sure I know it, and then we laugh about it. Then we laugh about everyone around us too. Meaghan Morris makes me smile because of how caring she is. She makes sure everyone is included in everything. Not a single person is left out when Meaghan is around. Emily Norell makes me smile because she is one of the funniest people I know in this life. Whenever I need a good laugh, I think of things we did as dumb kids and that always puts me in a slap-happy mood. Reed Nelson makes me smile because he is always there for me when I need someone to talk to, even when I am in the most bitter of moods. Thanks Reed, for taking in my negativity and making it positive. Josh Garcia makes me smile because it does not matter how deeply depressed I am, or angry I am, he always lightens the mood and gets me joking and my mood ALWAYS makes a total 360. I don’t know how he does it but that is what happens. Joseph Latham makes me smile because he is always right. The only time he is wrong is when he is sexist. I smile because he was my best friend while I was in California. Miss T makes me smile because we started this bog together but I am the only one who writes on it. But she is a friend for me always. I could be the most hated person on the planet and she would be right there by my side, being hated along with me.

                I know I have named a lot of people here, but I also know I have not named everyone. All of my friends have made me smile. Spontaneous smiles are my favorite. I want to know who makes you smile!

Dr.K

(Song: Smile, Artist: Avril Lavigne)

It Starts With One

I have been thinking about this post for a few weeks. I have not had time sit down and write, but I have had lots of time to think. It all started a few weeks ago when the day could not possibly go right. I worked 11 hours straight, with an hour drive from my parent’s house, and another hour drive back home that night. So for 13 hours I had to deal with annoying customers, angry drivers and innocent animals in the middle of the road. While on my drive home that night I was thinking about something a friend told me; he said, “Something interesting about the scriptures is the different perspectives.” I was thinking about this when the song You Are Loved by Josh Groban began to play on my iPod. I sat there and had to let my thoughts mix together. Every person around me is going through something, whether they have had a bad day, a friend pass away, a breakup, maybe a surprise party. Whatever it is, everyone’s perspective and moods are different. This also makes everyone’s choices different according to their experiences and the events in their life.

                I have met a lot of people who have made poor decisions in their life, or what I believe to be poor decisions. At this point I have a crossroad, should I judge the person on their poor decision? Or should I try to help them out of the situation they are in? This is kind of an extreme example. Here is something that happened with my nephew, he is 5, he has been taught that smoking is bad for you; one day he was in the car with my sister and he saw someone smoking, he said, “Mom, that’s a bad man.” She had to correct him and say, “No, he is not a bad man.” My nephew is a simple example of judgment. How innocent it is for him, but the issue is if he grows up not being corrected the judgment only gets worse.

                In the society that I live in people are judged harshly on their outer appearances. Now I am not talking about how attractive they are or anything like that. What I am saying is if there is someone with a tattoo, body piercing, or even crazy hair styles people point and scoff at them. If someone does not fit the “Mormon” style they are almost considered an outcast. People have experienced different things, they may not believe what you believe but that does not make them a bad person. You should feel lucky that you have the beliefs you do, not hold yourself higher than them because of it.

                The main point of what I am trying to say is, you don’t know what people are struggling with, you don’t know what they have experienced in life and you don’t know what kind of person they are from the outside. I have a friend I met a few days ago. We actually have been chatting and texting for a while. We hung out a few nights ago. I consider this individual a BEST friend, just because we have been chatting and joking for so long. The thing that I love about this is he is someone I would have avoided. He has a tattoo on his left arm, piercings in his ears, and just seems a little wilder than I am. (Yes I know these are my judgments.) The thing is we have a lot of fun when we hang out. I would have let his physical appearances stop me from making an awesome friendship.

                Like I said before, I have been thinking about this for a while, and because of that I have tried it out. I have tried really hard not to make quick judgments about anyone. I feel free, I feel like talking to everyone has become simpler. If I start to judge someone in my head, I quickly try to think of something positive about the person, and then I tell them. It is always good to hear a compliment even if it is from a stranger. This world is too negative, we need to bring in more positive feelings, and judgment is not a positive feeling. Let the positive start with you.

Dr.K

(Song: Starts with One; Artist: Shiny Toy Guns)