Smile.

I'm not sure who needs to see this message today, but read it twice. Not religious? Read anyway.

A friend of mine woke up still feeling like shit after having sort of a rough week. And being the usual (and probably sometimes annoying) little ray of sunshine then I tend to try and be, this is what I sent him.

After a little practice (and a lot of anxiety to help it along), I've sort of conditioned myself to wake up every morning grateful to just be awake. Not everyone gets that privilege. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but having anxiety to the level that I do sometimes makes me nervous to go to sleep for a plethora of reasons, and a lot of times I end of having to take a Xanax to knock me out. And to be honest I actually really hate that I sometimes have to take a pill just to get some sleep because it makes me feel weak, like I can't handle the anxiety on my own, but that's a post for another day.

Anyway, so because I'm going to bed anxious 99% of the time, every morning when I wake up, the first thought that crosses my mind is that I'm thankful just to see another morning. When you have this mindset, little things you maybe didn't appreciate before start making their way to the forefront of your thoughts. I'm not just thankful to have woken up, but woken up in a warm bed with a roof over my head. Thankful to see the daylight peering through the blinds onto my floor - and that I'm able and healthy enough to be able to climb out of bed on my own and open them on my own. And this might sound excessive but I'm also thankful for my phone and laptop, because without either of them I wouldn't have a way to get a message out like the one I'm sending right now.

I have a challenge for each of you reading this right now. Name one thing that you're happy about. Like right now, think it to yourself or even say it out loud. Too easy to name one thing? Name five things. And it doesn't have to be anything massive, maybe you're just happy to be eating your favorite cereal. Which is cool because I also will fuck up some cereal so I totally get that. Cereal is a good time! But you get what I'm saying? Do this every single day until it becomes a habit. Your whole world will change.

But for right now, just wake up and smile - even if the smile is forced at the moment. I get that people go through shit times, trust I have been there. But if you can think one happy thought a morning (channeling my inner Peter Pan here), that will turn into two thoughts, and then five thoughts, etc. Eventually you'll find that it's actually difficult to focus on the things that used to make you wake up in a bad mood, if you can imagine that, and every day after that will start off with you in a totally improved mental state. It takes practice for sure, but I promise you will get there and your way of thinking will change the outcome of your entire day.

Real talk. Now get out there, do some happy shit, and enjoy your weekend.

- The Whiskey Mom