Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness. - Mark Twain

January has flown by! I've had to start looking at what I have planned for February, and unfortunately the tests and papers that are due this month. But, something that I'm looking the most forward to is my trip to New Orleans at the end of the month. Well, today I started packing! My heart smiled when I realized how quickly my trip is approaching and started putting aside some clothing items and toiletries.

Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. - Don Kardong

Today I went and saw Barney's Version in theater (great movie and a great book!), plus got an ice cream sundae afterward. I'm sure I don't really need to say this, but my heart was smiling through both.

There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat. - Tay Hohoff

It made my heart smile to wake up in the morning to my cat purring down by my feet for no apparent reason.

Peace begins with a smile. - Mother Teresa

I was feeling pretty sore and tired today, and had rather convincingly talked myself out of going to the gym. However, just as I was about to walk away from the gym and head back home, I remembered the feeling of guilt I would have for the rest of the day. So, I turned around and worked out. At the end of the workout, I was sore, tired, and sweaty, but my heart was smiling because I knew that I had made the right choice.

Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day. - Author Unknown

I've been spending many hours crocheting lately as a fundraising effort for my trip to Swaziland. However, I haven't necessarily finished everything I've started. Today, my heart smiled when I finished the doll and ninja that I've had sitting on my desk waiting for their finishing touches (I'll try to add pictures later).

Edit: I picked this specific quote because the doll was missing, of all things, a smile.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. - Dalai Lama

As I said in my last post, I've not been feeling all that great. I've come down with the flu and an ear infection (apparently just one wasn't enough). I had to take the last two days off of work, and today was my first day back. I only had a short shift, and as I was leaving, my boss came over to see how I was doing. It made my heart smile to know that even though my being off work would've been a hassle for her and I wasn't gone all that long, she still cared enough to see how I was feeling.

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. - George Eliot

Today was a nice lazy day as I am getting over my flu. Of course, my cat Forest loves the fact that she has someone to cuddle with all day. So today, my heart was continuously smiling while Forest was curled up on me and purring away. I'd like to think her heart was smiling too!

Most smiles are started by another smile. - Author Unknown

I've come down with the flu the last couple days, but that doesn't mean there isn't time for a smile! Today my heart smiled when I received a message from a friend I haven't spoken to in a while. It's always nice to reconnect with people.