SMILE
1. to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.
2. to regard with favor: Luck smiled on us that night.
3. to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.: The landscape smiled in the sunlight.
4. to assume or give (a smile, esp. of a given kind): She smiled a warm and friendly smile.
5. to express by a smile: to smile approval.
6. to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling: to smile one's tears away.
7. the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.
8. favor or kindly regard: fortune's smile.
9. a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.
10. smile at,
a. to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
b. to regard with mild derision: to smile at someone's affectations.

The above is what you would find in the dictionary if you looked up the word smile. However, as formal as that definition is I believe that smile takes on a different meaning for each and every person. You know how much a smile can brighten your day? Even if it’s just some random stranger on the street doing it or your best friend. It means a little something to you deep down inside. I know when I pass someone and they smile at me it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I know, warm fuzzy feelings aren't for everyone to talk about, but that is the topic of today’s article; smiling. I've compiled a list of the top 5 things / people / places that make me smile. The top 5 that make me feel like I’m floating on air and nothing can touch me. Are you ready for it? I mean some of you might agree with me, others might be like 'she's retarded', but at the same time, does it really matter what makes you smile? Really?

Friends

You know how sometimes you sit back and wonder where the people in your life have come from? Well I know that I sit back and smile when I think about the amazing friends that I’ve met in such a short period of time. I've always found it extremely hard to relate to people. Most times I believe it’s because they don't get me as a person, that they don't understand where I am coming from.

I'm not your typical person really and once you meet me you will get to understand why. I tend to live for today and not really worry too much about tomorrow. Some people do tend to tell me that I over worry about a lot of things, however, in the long run it’s my friends that truly understand where I come from. I mean no matter how bad of a day I have had, getting together with my girls/boys always brings out the best in me. It makes me forget about whatever problem I’ve had that day. There have been times when I have been so down in the dumps that I wouldn't or heck even couldn't get out of bed. Of course, then I spend time with my friends and I'm smiling and laughing like a carefree child. I don't think a lot of people really truly value and understand how important friends are.

Like the Sunscreen Speech states "Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young." No matter where you go, or what you do you need to keep the people that make not only your lips smile but your heart smile as close as you possibly can to you. No one really knows how much time we might have left with one and another. Every photograph I take of my friends (no matter how mad they get at me for doing it) is me taking a snapshot of a moment that I’ll keep with me and in the years to come when I’m old, grey and have grandkids (maybe) I’ll look at that photo and smile, because I’ll have remembered some of the best times of my life with the people who mean the most to me, my friends.

Family

I'm sure a lot of you read reason two and were like 'how the heck can your family make you smile?' Well its simple, we may not choose to have them in our lives but we can sure as hell enjoy them while they are here. I mean sure, most families tend to fight like cats and dogs 99% of the time. It’s hard sometimes to put into words exactly what I’m thinking when it comes to my family. There are times when I want to take them and strangle them and just ignore them.

However, when I think about it I realize that they have been there for me through so much. They have seen me cry, seen me throw fits, see me smile, seen me jump for joy and every other emotion of the rainbow. What makes me happy is the fact that I can call my Mom at anytime of the day and tell her anything under the sun and she understands (okay not all the time, but she listens to me). She sends me emails about 'staying happy' and 'smiling'. She tells me everyday that she loves me and is proud of my path in life. I know a lot of people don't have a mother / best friend all rolled into one, and I count my lucky stars every day that I have her in my life. I'm not trying to brag that I have something better then anyone else, or rub faces in it, I’m just letting you know that sometimes, just sometimes, family is one reason that a smile will etch itself across your lips.

Live Shows

Have you ever been to a live concert and not felt your heart beating out of your chest? Not felt the sudden rush of warmth that runs through you the minute you start walking through the doors and towards the stage where you are about to witness your favorite band or singer take the stage to perform for you? Each and every time that I attend a show it feels like the first time. I live for going to concerts, from huge arena shows to just club shows where only 200 people can fit. Each show holds a special piece of my heart. No matter what I remember a snippet from each band, each person I’ve met with me. I can look back with fond memories and smile. I used to be one of those people who had my camera out the entire show. Now, I spend my time and watch the band more closely and take in the crowd. I love hearing the crowd singing along to each song (well okay not if they decide to scream it into my ear, because really? do you have to?). My heart soars each and every time that I watch a show, each and every time that I spend leaning onto a barricade or sitting in a seat. I mean how can you not smile when you hear music?

Music

I think that this topic deserves its own heading really. Though I did touch on it in the paragraph above I can go into much more depth on how music makes me feel. Just think about your favorite band, think about when they release a new album and you run out after work/school/whatever you are doing that day to pick it up. You hold it in your hand and pull off the plastic and get home to slide it into your computer or CD player (who knows if anyone even uses CD players these days really), and hit play.

Just remember that smile and anxiousness that comes over you as you hear it for the first time, as you hear those first words flow out of the speakers and into your ears. I don't think I can remember a time where music hasn't made me smile. No matter how horrible I feel, how upset I am, I turn to music and it makes me smile. Like Andrew McMahon sings "Swim for the music that saves you when you're not so sure you'll survive". Sometimes we all feel like we are drowning in something and I would like you to tell me that you don't reach for your iPod or computer and turn on some music to help you through it. I want you to try and tell me that you can't feel yourself relax and your muscles loosen and that smile spread. Music is after all the universal language and it helps you be able to understand any culture, and who can't understand the meaning behind a simple smile.

Marius

Now you are probably asking what the importance behind this name is, well let me tell you. When I first moved away from home I felt completely lost and out of place, even though I was living with family. I needed something to hold onto, something that fully belonged to me. That was when I got my kitten. If you guessed I named him Marius then you are correct (and if you guess where the name came from you get serious points with me). It was nice, once I got my own place, to come home from work every day and have him rub against my legs. To have him lay beside me at night purring and seeking my attention. There were a few times when I thought I had lost him, and my heart was so torn into pieces. Then I would hear that meow across the street or outside my window and my heart would stretch and my smile would break lose and I would just cuddle him and he would love me. I am 100% attached to my cat, which to a lot of people might sound creepy, but when you are an animal lover you can't help but get attached. He is the one thing in my life that I can talk to and he won't judge me, he won't look at me like I’ve lost my mind, he just lays there and lets me scratch his ears and sings to me. I can't sleep at night if he isn't in the house, or even more so at the foot of my bed, keeping my feet warm.

There you go. My five reasons for keeping a smile firmly planted on my face. Of course I don't smile everyday, but those five factors make my life a heck of a lot easier to live and enjoy. I'm going to leave you with a portion of lyrics from a song, that will make you learn to cherish life.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth.

SMILE LIKE EVERYBODY IS WATCHING YOU.

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