People won’t remember what you said or how you acted, but they will remember how you made them feel. So much of what we think of others stems from how they make us feel when we are with them. It’s the reason why they say that people buy from people, it’s also the reason why those darned commercials with the 3 legged dog and cat who’s tail is mangled make us say “AWWWWWWW” and want to send them all our money, or why we pick up a stray animal. We humans are very emotion driven creatures.

In high school I wasn’t the most academically sound or stellar student. I was an average student, good in English classes, I was a cheerleader and I was in choir. I don’t think I was ever really one of those STAR students who stood out you know what I mean? Like I kinda just got by under the radar, which isn’t a bad thing. All that to say this; my high school teachers all remembered me 6-7 years later because they all said the same thing– “you ALWAYS had a smile on your face, I remember that…” They didn’t remember that I was suspended for ditching P.E. for 2 months {LOL} or that I talked too much in class {ALWAYS!} or that I was even a cheerleader! They remembered my smile, my joy, my laughter. What a great high school legacy to leave, right?

I used to say to people “I smile because I have no idea what is going on” and it’s true to a degree. I literally could be walking next to my best friend in the mall and not notice she was there because I am focused on just myself or my kids if I am with them. So often people tell me “I saw you on the highway driving and I was waiving at you!” and I’m like “Huh?” lol I don’t ever really pay attention to who is around me which is good and bad– but the point I am trying to make in all this is that for whatever reason God has wired me to just SMILE, that’s it. I very rarely am seen walking around with a sad face, you won’t ever really see me cry and I don’t share too much of the small frustrations of life with everyone… life is too short to sweat the small stuff or to worry about things we can not control. It’s all about where we focus our attention, and what message we send out to the world, especially to our little world at home with out husband and children.

I want to always leave a legacy of JOY, LOVE, PEACE, Patience, Understanding… Here are a few of my tips for you to find that joy in your life everyday.

Trust in God {Proverbs 3:5}, pray for a persistent mindset on positive & wonderful things {Phillipians 4:8}, have unending perseverance {Romans 12:12} and accept the huge heaping amount of GRACE the Lord has given you {Hebrews 4:16} then, share that with others through being LOVING, PEACEFUL & GRACIOUS to those around you!

Here are the verses for you to read

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

Phillipians 4:8 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.