When everyone calls for a rainy day, but you get clear skies. When you look down, and there’s a shiny new penny staring back at you. When you get an A on that test, you were so worried about. We all know that fantastic feeling of unexpected joy, big or small. That one thing that just puts a smile on your face. That moment when you know you’re going to have a great day. 

That feeling of pure, unexpected bliss is exactly what I want to rave about today. 

So the other day, I was driving to go for a run with my dogs. I wasn’t in the best mood, and I hoped that a little exercise with my pups would help. Before I could even get to the park, I stopped at a red light. “Oh great,” I thought to myself, “just what I needed today.” Now I could have dwelled on the minor inconvenience of having to stop, but instead, I looked to my left. What did I see? My friend driving to get his hair cut! I smiled so big for no reason other than just getting that little bit of joy that I was not expecting whatsoever. After that, my whole bad mood just washed away, and all I could think about was how fun it was to see my friend driving right there next to me. And now look! It inspired me to write this column!

In a world filled with negativity, it is so easy to get lost in all the bad things, but it is beyond important to take time to appreciate and focus on the little, random joys in your life. Focus on that new friend you just made who you’re going to grow to love even though all you expected was another colleague. Or focus on that cute little dog that ran up to you at the park when all you expected was a lovely walk alone. Focus on the accidental things that make you smile so that you can appreciate that joy more and more each time it comes around. 

Not only should you focus on the joys, but you should reflect on them too. Golfer and popular podcaster, Ben Goodey, speaks of the importance of reflecting on positive moments in his article, “Why we Should Start Ananylsing and Reflecting on Positive Experiences.” Goodey said, “Life shouldn’t be just about preventing the bad things from happening; it makes just as much sense (if not more) to analyze the positive experiences and to try to keep making them happen.” A popular positivity reflection process is logging or journaling. Each time you encounter something that puts a smile on your face, think about it and write it down to go back to when you’re maybe having a rough day or just need a bit of glee. 

Goodey also highlights the importance of what has popularly become known as manifesting. Manifesting is when you intentionally create what you want by thinking about and focusing on your desires. Manifesting positivity in your life could help you appreciate it more when you encounter it, and many believe it will bring positivity your way.  

These wonderful accidental delights are so enjoyable to encounter and vital to appreciate. So next time you get a random smile put on your face, don’t forget it. Who knows? Maybe more will be coming your way then. Stay positive, Brentwood!