Write Happy :)

Writing can be such a therapy for some of us; to get out all the hurt and frustration. However, writing should also be for happiness and enjoyment...there are so many happy things to write about! I've got TONS of techniques for writing out the joy...here are five:

1. Listen to happy music! Music can completely change your mood and really lighten up the day. It also is great for writing inspiration. Listening to my happy music while writing always makes what I write come out joyful. (If you need music recommendations for happy music or any kind, let me know, and I'll give you my Spotify info.)

2. Write from two perspectives! When I'm having a tough time, I write out my frustrations and feelings. It's really important to keep in mind that what you KNOW always triumphs what you FEEL. With that being said, after I have written all my feelings on one page, I write everything I know (truth and positivity) on the next page. For me, it's like a conversation being played out... reminding myself of all the good things, speaking truth to myself so that I don't get so caught up in my own hurt, and ultimately choosing joy.

3. Read a story and re-write it your way! In the same way that some people make up happy scenarios before going to sleep, re-making a story to be what you want is really satisfying. This option never lets me down! I just pick a book off my shelves or a movie's plot and make all the things happen that I want to happen. Feeling like you have a sense of control over something can be really calming, and using someone else's characters saves you the time that you'd spend creating your own characters, plot, and scene. It's basically a writing prompt (or fanfic) on your favorite story/character.

4. Get to know yourself! There are millions of lists online of goofy and oddly detailed questions for people to ask their significant others/dates to get to know them. I've found that half of those questions are things I didn't even know about myself! (Sunsets or sunrises? If you were giving a TED talk, what would it be about? A rainy night drive or a spring morning walk? The forest or the beach? What animal would you be if you could be any? What's your second favorite movie? Etc.) And honestly, everyone loves to talk about themselves, let's just admit it. Those online questions can be really fun to answer; you might learn some things about yourself.

5. Write a letter! Though almost everything is online now when it comes to communication, receiving an actual letter is so fun. Maybe get yourself a penpal from a different country to write back and forth with. I can honestly say that making a new friend through letters is one of the best things ever. You get to look forward to checking the mail all the time, you learn about someone new, and you get to be creative and thoughtful. The most wonderful part about a penpal is the mystery. You don't know what they look like, sound like, what their home is like, or what their family is like. An even more adventurous way to write letters is to complete strangers; leave a letter in public for someone to pick up and read. Leave sweet letters in books at a library or bookstore. Leave notes on the counter to a barista. Write a letter to your neighbor and leave it at their door. Tie a letter to a balloon and let it fly away. Stick a note on a car's windshield. That kind of letter-writing will automatically brighten up your day and a stranger's.