I've decided the world needs a double take.

I walk around campus and I see people with sullen expressions. They sit down every break they get between classes to just plain not think, and that's what they do. They don't think. They sit in little groups of their 'friends,' talking without thinking. They complain about how hard their life is. They complain about how their prof failed them on an assignment, even though it was totally not their fault that they had to go to the mall rather than study. They complain about how weird that girl in their calculus class is, and how she's obviously stupid and not worth being friendswith because she's got the highest marks. They talk about that dude over in the caf who always sits by himself like a nerd. And oh my gawd, did you hear about what his girlfriend did last year?

Get a hold of yourselves, people!

Take another look around! There is so much going on around you that you're completely unaware of!

I believe that happiness is something we create. -Sugarland

People tend to focus way too much on the negative things they see. They hardly ever say, oh, hey, that girl in calculus is always smiling. She must be really enjoying herself! No, that's not important.

By the way, YES. I know I am complaining. But here's where it stops. I love my friends. I love my life. I love the beauty in the people and nature around me. I love my Jesus. I love to hang out with people I know just to have a good time. When I get a break from classes I like to move around. You know: go for a walk, play some football or Frisbee on the front lawn, play some guitar in a sweet jam session.

I've heard it said that it takes more energy to frown than to smile. Have you ever tried pushing out your lower lip in a whimper and holding it there for an extended period of time? It's not easy, I kid you not. On the other hand, I find it quite easy to smile at people all day long when I see them. Even when I don't see them. I think about my friends and things we've done and I laugh out loud happily. Holy cow, life is amazing. Sometimes I wish I could just take out my eyes and stick them in some one else's head so that they would see the world the way I do.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that there is no reasons to be unhappy. I mean, my grandpa passed away last year and I was pretty darn upset. In fact, I spent the majority of that day away from people, just walking around by myself, immersed in my own tears. I didn't want to see anyone. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone. What was cool though, is that I saw the bright side of even that situation. While I was walking along the side of a river that day a bible verse kept popping into my head, over and over.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! -Psalm 118:24

My first reaction to this verse on this particular day was, "What reasons could I possibly have to be happy right now?" Well? Well God? What is it you're trying to tell me? But God's a pretty smart guy. He always knows what cheers me up. I looked around and I could see the river. I could see it's fast flowing water. I could see whitecaps as it flowed over rocks. I could see a leaf floating on top of it. I could see a fish swimming inside it. I could see colourful pebbles at the bottom. I could see the way each ripple moved and all I could think about was how cool it was that God had made something so beautiful. Then one of my friends found me a bit later and she told me a couple things that cheered me up as well. I realized how lucky I was to have friends who love and care about me.

I'm willing to bet you have friends like that as well. Open your eyes. Check out all the cool things you have in your life that you can be thankful for. Think about how much Jesus cares about you, and smile.