Wisdom Prof. Dumbledore style

"But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."– Prof. Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

It is the author J.K. Rowling's birthday and because I like the Harry Potter series that she wrote I thought I'd share a quote from one of her books that I like best. One of my favorite characters in the books is Professor Dumbledore who is the headmaster of a school for witches and wizards. He's very wise and good at saying things that are profound. I just like the idea of finding happiness in every circumstance. Plus, reading (especially the Harry Potter books) always makes me feel good inside. Wherever you are, I hope you can find some happiness in each day no matter what each day brings. 

Dreams have changed me

"I have dreamed in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind."- Emily Bronte
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/emily_bronte

The author Emily Bronte was born today in 1818 and I really like this quote that's attributed to her because I think dreams change people ore perhaps they help people make changes. I have dreams of things I want to do and I think that in some ways those dreams still help to motivate me to be better. I hope that wherever you are reading this, that you have many dreams and that you aim for them and ensure your dreams are realized.

If I were in a silent movie

The silent movie actress Clara Bow was born today in 1905 and this got me thinking about what sort of character or story I'd like to be in if I were to be part of a silent film (never mind the fact that they're no longer popular.) In my experience, all the silent films I've ever seen have been comedies and sometimes about bank heists. If I were in a silent film I think I'd want to be in one where somehow I'd be in charge of driving the getaway clown car and I'd be on this team of ragtag characters that have all sorts of crazy fun adventures that make people laugh. However, things being the way they are, I think it best to just stick to watching funny silent films like the one below. Happy Sunday everyone!

A book from my childhood

I always love reading and one of my favorite authors as a child was Beatrix Potter who was born today in 1866.  She wrote a book called Peter Rabbit which is about a rabbit that basically gets chased around by a farmer and I forget now what else happens but I remember it ends happily which is what counts. Anyway,  I liked because I like rabbits and I liked how my mum made the book's characters' voices sound different. Thinking of that makes me hope that kids get read to and whoever reads to them gives characters different voices because it makes things more fun. Happy Saturday everyone!

Showing care

I don't think I really stopped and thought how much people show care when one is sick.  Somehow, getting get well cards and  seems like better medicine than actual physical medicine. I like to think it shows that love can do a lot towards helping people feel physically better.  I just like the fact that humanity has such a capacity for caring for others when they're in need. So, in that spirit, if you're reading this and you aren't feeling well, I hope you feel much better very soon and I wish you the very best now and always.

Flowers grow out of the dark

"Flowers grow out of dark moments"-Corita Kent


I liked this quote a lot because I love flowers and I believe that good things can come especially from difficult situations. Wherever you are I hope that you can find something good about each day and each situation you're in. I wish you the very best.

Advice about going to the doctor

"Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died."-Erma Bombeck
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/erma_bombeck_100082

I realize the quote above is a little morbid but it still made me laugh. If you're reading this and you had to go to the doctor today I hope you feel better very soon and I wish you the very best! 

Fun adventure

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."- Amelia Earhart
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/amelia_earhart_130007

The aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was born today in 1897 and I celebrate her because her life was pretty much all about having adventures. I like to think that adventures are some of the best things and that life is full of them because I don't think it's absolutely certain what each day will bring. Some of the more adventurous things I've done is travel to Thailand and Argentina, take airplane trips by myself, get my ears pierced (which may not seem that adventurous but I felt somehow rebellious about doing it), and trying foods. Doing all of those things were at the very least interesting and as I really like wearing earrings, traveling and cooking. Anyway, I hope that in life you have many adventures and enjoy every minute of them!

If I dare

I heard this song by the singer Sara Bareilles called "If I Dare" and I liked it because it made me feel empowered. It's all about not letting anything stop you from reaching a goal.  Plus, it just sounds pretty when she sings it.  Anyway, if you have a goal you want to reach, I officially dare you to reach it!

Minions to the rescue!

I was really happy today because I found out that in Thailand there is now an ambulance that is minion- themed! (For those who don’t know, minions are little yellow cartoon characters who make it their mission to get into all sorts of trouble and cause a lot of mischief.) The man who drives the ambulance I mentioned previously, decided he wanted the ambulance to be more cheerful and he felt that minions would do the trick! I liked this man’s story because minions always make me and happy as they make me laugh. I’ve been in my fair share of ambulances in my life and I figure anything that makes those vehicles more cheerful is the best thing to do! See below for a video about the minion ambulance!

Finding happiness in hospitals

The actor and comedian Robin Williams was born today in 1951. I always thought he was so funny and one of the movies that I like best that he starred in is called Patch Adams which is about a doctor that uses humor to help treat patients. One scene from the movie that I really like is where Robin Williams as the doctor goes and makes a bunch of children laugh. I always liked that scene as I firmly believe laughter is the best medicine!

Hooray It's Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!!!

A daring picture

I love history and so when I saw this very short documentary I thought I should share it here. It's about a photo that was taken of a group of men eating lunch on a beam of a skyscraper that they were building. I thought it was really neat how those men dared to go out on that beam so many hundreds of feet above New York City and eat there lunch. Although I don't think I could (or want) to do something like that, it does make me think of how it can be really fun to do some thing daring once in a while. Anyway, one thing that struck me that I learned from the documentary, was that no one ever recorded the names of the men in the pictures shown in the documentary. Although we'll never know exactly who they were, I still celebrate them all here for being so brave and working so hard to construct awesome buildings. What I like best about the pictures shown in the documentary is that all the men in those pictures look so happy and proud of their work.  So, whatever you do in this life, I hope you take great pride in the things that you do. I send best wishes to all who read this.

Cute dog and baby video.

I was looking for something happy today and I found this video that really made me smile. Happy Wednesday everyone!

Happiness in finding something

I've been looking for some keys for a while now and today I managed to find them. It may seem really insignificant to the outside world but still, there's something really satisfying about finding things that were once thought lost. It makes me think of a lovely line that I read once by this poet named Edmond Spencer that goes "“For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought." To all who read this, I hope that you find all you seek in life. 

Dancing pretty!

The actress Ginger Rogers was born today in 1911 and she was famous for dancing with another actor called Fred Astaire. I like watching old movies of them dancing because they always look so elegant and I think it's fun to see people all dressed up.  To all who read this I hope you have many opportunities to dance in your life.

Don't let fear stop you...

"But you have to do what you dream of doing even while you're afraid." Arianna Huffington
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/arianna_huffington_391726

I've found that some of the best things I've done were things that I was initially afraid of doing. For example, I used to be very much afraid of being away from my family even though I knew there were more opportunities away from home. I don't know if I actually had very specific dreams of what I'd do in life but I do (and did) dream about doing something that was helpful to other people. Now, although I do really miss being with my family more often, I do feel as though I can help people more people, learn more and grow more because I decided to move to another city. To all who read this: even if something frightens you, if it'll help you do something you really want to do, please don't let fear be a barrier to the goals you hold dear.  I wish you the very best now and always!

It's Saturday! Even Minions are celebrating!

Just because I'm in a silly mood I wanted to celebrate this Saturday with....Minions! Happy Saturday everyone!

Exploring space!

It's the actor Patrick Stewart's birthday and I'm writing about him because he was in Star Trek and I also like his voice. I rather like Star Trek because although it can be a bit silly sometimes, I do think it would be fun to go exploring in space. I think it would be fun to see the Milky Way up close and to look down and see the earth from above.  Although don't think I'll be able to go into outer space, I  do like seeing the stars at night. Since I grew up on a farm I was able to see the stars really clearly as a child because there weren't a lot of buildings around to block them out. Now that I'm living away from my parents and siblings it's a comfort to me to see the moon at night because I know that it's the same moon my family can see and so seeing the moon always makes me feel happy. I hope that wherever you are reading this that you can see the moon and possibly some stars at night, just to add more light to your life!

Never underestimate the power of an education!

It is the activist Malala Yousafzai's birthday and I'm writing about her because she continues to be a  firm advocate for education and especially education for girls and women. I just like the fact that despite all the difficulties she's faced, (mainly because of getting shot for her writing and for going to school) she still keeps going and I don't think she'll stop. She symbolizes the power education can have. Since she was educated, she can now continue to help others be educated as well. One thing I really like about education is that once you have it, it's something that no one can take from you. Plus, the more people know, the better off people are and the more that society can grow.  The best thing about gaining knowledge is that it's easy to spread and in that spirit, if you wish to help more people to be educated, consider donating to the Malala Fund (https://www.malala.org).

Do what gives you the most joy

"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry."-E. B. White
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/e_b_white_387572

I hope everyone gets a chance to do something each day that brings them some joy or at the very least,  helps them to be happy. Although doing the laundry doesn't really give me joy, there is something to be said about having nice clean clothes. Anyway, in an effort to bring a little more happiness to your life I thought I'd share a song I really like about making people happy.

Finding peace at home

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/johann_wolfgang_von_goeth_101508


I went back to visit my family in Michigan recently and the quote above made me think of how nice it was to be home with my family as I do find a lot of peace when I'm with them.  They help me feel very happy. Wherever you are reading this, I hope you have many people in your life that make you feel good inside and out. I wish you the very best now and always!

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/johann_wolfgang_von_goeth_101508

Monday for the dogs!

I love dogs and as it's Monday, I thought this video was appropriate! I wish everyone a very Happy Monday and an even happier Tuesday to come!

Happy Sunday!

I wish everyone the happiest of Sundays and a very happy Monday to come!

World Cup of happiness!

I’ve been watching the World Cup and one thing I like best about watching World Cup matches is that every time a team scores, that team jumps up and down and has a mini celebration. I just like seeing people so happy. Anyway, I’m happy England won today and I wish the very best to the teams that play in the final!

Do something that makes you happy each day

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." Dalai Lama
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dalai_lama_16611


It's the Dalai Lama's birthday and I really like this quote from him because I like the idea of happiness coming from doing something. I heard this commentator once who spoke about how they recommended taking something like 10-15 minutes out of the day to do something that makes you feel happy. For me, writing this blog is often that thing that I do that makes me feel really happy. I just like the fact that this blog is a space where I can be unabashedly cheerful and happy no matter the circumstance. My hope for everyone is that they can have such a space or thing that makes them feel really good. I wish everyone a happy Friday!

Some American music

Since the 4th of July occurred this week, naturally, this got me thinking about music I like from American composers. One classical composer I like is Aaron Copeland. He composed this piece called "Appalachian Spring" which always makes me feel more relaxed when I hear it. It makes me feel good inside and I hope that it has the same effect on others. Happy Thursday everyone!

ASL signs for July 4th

Since July 4th is Independence Day in the US, I thought I'd share some American Sign Language signs that relate to this holiday. For all those who celebrate July 4th, I hope you have a very happy July 4th!

Advice for being in a heat wave

In the middle of a heat wave, keep calm and eat ice cream!

Good word for the day!

I like words and so I thought I’d share the word “aplomb” here today.  Aplomb can mean to do something with skill and poise especially when facing difficulties.  So if there’s something difficult that you have to do, I hope you can do it with aplomb!

Happy Anniversary to my parents!

I want here and now to wish a very Happy Anniversary to my parents because they really are the best and I love them very much! Here's to 40 more years!