Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. - William Feather

I'm going to play a bit of catch-up.

Monday was a hectic day at my internship.  There's been some behavioral problems that require a lot of attention, which has lots of people on edge.  Plus, there's some really important meetings later this week, training on Tuesday, and just everyday craziness.  It being a Monday doesn't help either.  But, with that being said, there's always time for a smiling heart moment, and mine was working with a student on his English homework and helping him finish it, even though he continuously said he couldn't do it.  There's just something awesome that happens when someone realizes that what they thought they couldn't do is something they can do.

Tuesday was a relaxing day.  The staff at my internship were off for training in Toronto, so I got the day off.  Of course, I spent it doing nothing, which in and of itself had my heart smiling (especially since I didn't know I'd have the day off until Monday afternoon).  I really had two smiling heart moments on Tuesday.  The first was when I finished reading Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut while sitting out on my back porch in the sun.  The second was watching The Croods with my little sister.  It was nice to spend some time with her while watching a really good movie about the importance of family.

Today my smiling heart moment happened during a meeting at my internship.  Personally, I feel like I'm getting along well and adjusting to life there, but what I personally feel isn't necessarily what everyone else feels.  So it was really nice when the staff members all commented on how quickly and easily I have connected with the students and the program, and even said that most people don't normally transition into it so well so soon.  One of the Youth Workers commented that she could tell the students like me because they went from saying that they didn't need any help, to asking me for help.  She said that when they actually want you to help them, that means that they like you.  So yeah for me!

"I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" - Kurt Vonnegut

So what brought me to update today?  The quote in the subject line.  In his commencement speech to the 1999 graduates at Agnes Scott College, Kurt Vonnegut ends with the phrase, "If this isn't nice, I don't know what is," and that got me thinking.  If this isn't nice, what is?

The weather is amazing.  I spent some time prepping the garden to plant some vegetables, which I've been waiting to do since last year.  I also found some granadilla fruits (haven't eaten them yet, but just that I found them is pretty awesome and smiling heart worthy).  I ate a deep fried cannoli, and yes, it made my heart smile (I know what the health nuts are thinking, and yes, I see the irony).  I played two rounds of mini putt (and lost both rounds).  I got my eyes checked and the changes to my prescription is so mild that I don't even really need to buy new glasses, but (another smiling heart moment) because I have awesome coverage, I am getting new glasses (talk about privilege!).  I even had time to watch this really inspiring TED Talk: 

So, back to the original question, if this isn't nice, what is?

Edited after the fact:  The quote is originally in A Man Without a Country (also by Kurt Vonnegut), but it was while watching the commencement speech today, where he repeats this quote at the end, that I decided to update.

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. - Mary Engelbreit

I had a bit of a rough May.  I was put in an awkward situation where my success at school was reliant on getting a pass from someone who could only be described as sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, and just an all around not really great person.  What made it even more awkward is the fact that she liked me, and was therefore nice to me.  So I had to be around this person every day who would spew what I could only describe as disgusting things, and couldn't do anything about it or else I'd fail.  Finally, on my last day, I was able to speak up a bit, which was a fantastic feeling.

Today, in one of my classes, a fellow classmate started saying very similar homophobic things.  I could feel the tension, and I knew that what he was saying directly affected a fellow classmate.  I couldn't hold in what I was thinking or feeling anymore, and very reasonably questioned this classmate.  As soon as I started, other classmates started to object to what he was saying as well.  Afterwards, several came up to me and thanked me for saying something, and said that it gave them courage to say what they wanted to say as well.

It made my heart smile to hear other people standing up for the rights of others and to know that sometimes all it takes is one voice to break the silence.

Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? - Dennis and Wendy Mannering

One of my teachers won an award for her amazingly contagious and inspirational work.  It made my heart smile to see her being recognized for her work.  I can't think of anyone more deserving.

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. - Robert Brault

The past month has been absolutely crazy.  I'll just do a quick break down of the ups and downs of 2013 so far:

• Got an internship that I'm feeling really good about.
• Broke up with my boyfriend (a positive thing, though still a down).
• Start applying for adult jobs.

And.... Wait for it...

Got a job as a Middle School Social Studies teacher in Kuwait!

So it's been crazy.  I've been having a hard time trying to figure out where my head is at, but have still been enjoying those small little moments that make me smile every single day.  Today it was seeing a friend that I haven't seen in over a year.  It was great catching up with her over amazing Caribbean food!  I hope to see her again sometime soon to hear about how her interview went.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. - Victor Borge

I don't really like presentations.  I always get super nervous, my hands shake, and I'm pretty sure that everyone is bored to death by what I'm saying.

Today I did a PowerPoint presentation on different cultures' weddings.  I picked three, thought they were interesting, but the students looked board out of their minds.  After the presentation, I had them read a newspaper article on one of the groups and how the elders in the community were concerned that their traditions were being tossed aside and that more Westernized ideas were taking their place.  The students then did a think, pair, share about it.  While they were pairing off, I walked around to see what people were saying.  I got to one part of the class, and two of the students said that I should teach every day, and the classmates sitting around them all agreed.  It made my heart smile to see that what I'm doing isn't for waste, and that the students do enjoy it (in hindsight, I should've realized the students were enjoying the presentation because they were all pretty silent during it, even though they didn't have to write any notes).

(Also, I did a 3-2-1 exit card, and for the 1 I asked for them to write one thing they enjoyed about the lesson.  One of the students wrote, "Learning about different weddings, and your laugh."  That also made me smile.)

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995

My first moment happened sometime last week.  I was on my way home on the bus after school, and the bus driver pulled over and ran into a store.  He left the door open and someone entered the bus while the driver was away.  What made my heart smile was that the person who came onto the bus, even though the driver was away, still paid.  There's so many stories about people being dishonest, but here was a case where a person was being honest when they could've gotten away with lying.  It was just such a nice thing to see.

All week I have been incredibly stressed and sick.  It's just not a good mix and hasn't been a whole lot of fun.  Yesterday I stayed up super late to finish two lesson plans and was really worried that my AT would think they were flops.  I wasn't looking forward to getting them passed by her, but couldn't think of any other way to get the information to the students.  I tentatively showed her my lesson plan, and immediately after reading my first questionable plan, she said, "Love it.  Keep it in."  My heart smiled to know that my work was appreciated and that she has faith in the work that I come up with, even when I don't.  (It also made my heart smile because it means I don't have to redo it tonight, so instead of been cuddling with my cat since she's been neglected lately).