david j. garcia

I hope you started the new year off the right way: by smiling! And after you’ve gotten such a good start, it’d be a shame to waste it. So my wonderful wife Emily and I have come up with tons of things to do (at least one/day) to make sure you spend all your days smiling.

Here’s 197 things to do (at least one/day) to make sure you spend all your days smiling:

1. Dream.
2. Kiss someone you like.
3. Play with a kitten.
4. Hold a baby.
5. Say “I love you” (and mean it).
6. Play fetch with a dog.
7. Go for a walk.
8. Take a bike ride.
9. Watch a sunset.
10. Watch a sunrise.
11. Have sex (with your spouse ).
12. Decorate a Christmas tree.
13. Write a letter.
14. Visit a nursing home.
15. Call an old friend.
16. Go out of your way to help someone.
17. Give someone flowers.
18. Send a thank-you card.
19. Make a list of your favorite people (and why).
20. Tell your favorite people why they’re your favorite.
21. Visit a friend.
22. Read scripture.
23. Sing in the shower.
24. Sing off key on purpose.
25. Make funny noises.
26. Have a funny face contest.
27. Go for a walk near water.
28. Go for a hike.
29. Stop and smell the roses—literally.
30. Pet an animal.
31. Learn a new hobby.
32. Do someone else’s dishes.
33. Ask someone about their favorite memory.
34. Sit quietly and think about something (or someone) that makes you happy.
35. Bake cookies.
36. Take homemade cookies somewhere.
37. Say hello to a stranger.
38. Plant something.
39. Take a picture of a sunset.
40. Enjoy your favorite flavor of ice cream.
41. Make art.
42. Eat a fresh fruit or vegetable.
43. Read a good book.
44. Write a poem.
45. Publish a blog.
46. Turn up the music.
47. Turn off the news.
48. Close all the door and windows and dance (in just your socks).
49. Make 2012 your best year yet.
50. Sing along to a musical.
51. Watch a penguin walk.
52. Listen to a kid tell a story.
53. Go to the playground.
54. Run (or walk) a 5K.
55. Give something to your local homeless person.
56. Take a long, hot bath.
57. Set a big goal.
58. Picture yourself accomplishing a big goal.
59. Accomplish a big goal.
60. Play a card game.
61. Cheat to help someone else win.
62. Wish someone a good day.
63. Wish a stranger “Merry Christmas!”
64. Say something silly on purpose.
65. Practice a tongue twister.
66. Learn how to say “thank you” in a different language.
67. Take a picture.
68. Look through an old photo album.
69. Draw something you remember.
70. Finish a project.
71. Get the house clean.
72. Go outside for five minutes just for the sake of being outside.
73. Feel the sunshine on your shoulders.
74. Go to a party.
75. Throw a party.
76. Compliment someone’s eyes.
77. Compliment someone’s clothes.
78. Compliment someone’s shoes.
79. Compliment someone’s attitude.
80. Compliment someone’s personality.
81. Eat a cookie.
82. Ride a horse.
83. Climb something.
84. Swim.
85. Go on an adventure.
86. Visit a waterfall.
87. Smell a bunch of flowers.
88. Tell someone you’re proud of them.
89. Go out for a night on the town.
90. See a live performance.
91. Put on a live performance.
92. Watch a fire.
93. Eat a brownie.
94. Eat ice cream (or frozen yogurt).
95. Smile just for the heck of it.
96. Watch someone you love.
97. Breathe deeply at least three times in a row.
98. Say “easy peasy.”
99. Jump. Multiple times, if you have to.
100. Compliment a stranger.
101. Sincerely thank customer service.
102. Leave an extra-generous tip.
103. Withdraw $20 in ones, and give yourself permission to do whatever you want with it.
104. Drink a tall glass of water.
105. Exercise.
106. Call your mom.
107. Walk barefoot through the grass or sand.
108. Change a light bulb, then turn on the new one and watch it work.
109. Make an old family recipe.
110. Do a project with an elderly relative.
111. Decorate Easter eggs.
112. Finger paint.
113. Tickle someone.
114. Get tickled.
115. Threaten to tickle someone.
116. Tell a really corny joke.
117. Tell a really good joke.
118. Wear your nicest clothes.
119. Serenade your steering wheel.
120. Bounce a ball.
121. Sing falsetto.
122. Play catch.
123. Fly a kite.
124. Roll down a hill.
125. Visit a museum.
126. Examine a painting.
127. Send a letter, by mail, to yourself.
128. Sing along to the radio.
129. Attend a wedding.
130. Give a birthday gift.
131. Give a gift for no reason.
132. Play “hide and seek.”
133. Play tag.
134. Drum.
135. Beatbox.
136. Take a bubble bath.
137. Rub your tummy and pat your head simultaneously.
138. Give a massage.
139. Get a massage (which is easier after you’ve given one).
140. Put on warm, fuzzy socks.
141. Build something with Legos.
142. Make (and wear) a newspaper hat.
143. Dedicate a song to someone.
144. Watch old people dance.
145. Go to church.
146. Reorganize your living room.
147. Pay off a debt.
148. Do someone a favor.
149. Buy something you’ve saved up for.
150. Vitameatavegamin.
151. Light a good-smelling candle.
152. Spend an evening with a good book.
153. Snuggle.
154. Read the funny pages.
155. Bake a cake.
156. Frame something important.
157. Listen to “Who’s on First?”
158. Go someplace new and exciting.
159. Climb a mountain.
160. Make time.
161. Get a fresh haircut.
162. Consider the mayfly.
163. Touch noses with someone special.
164. Smile at someone.
165. Read a Dr. Suess book—as fast as you can, out loud.
166. Play with someone’s hair.
167. Tickle your own feet.
168. Play a board game.
169. Make a list of things that make you smile.
170. Wrap up in a blanket fresh out of the dryer.
171. Drink hot chocolate.
172. Appreciate something beautiful.
173. Appreciate someone beautiful.
174. Draw a picture of something/someone beautiful.
175. Pray.
176. Try out a new recipe.
177. Sit close together by the fire.
178. Listen to your favorite song.
179. Sing “If I were a rich man” (aloud).
180. Do something selfless.
181. Smell good.
182. Skip.
183. Hold hands.
184. Watch a Disney movie.
185. Sit down as a family and eat dinner.
186. Spend time with nine-year-olds.
187. Listen to children sing.
188. Clean a room, then sit and enjoy the view.
189. Take a trip.
190. Go to the zoo.
191. Paint your toenails.
192. Say a tongue twister. A lot of times. Fast.
193. Do something embarrassing.
194. Write a long list of things you’re thankful for.
195. Try to make someone else smile.
196. Post a comment on this post telling your favorite ways to get smiling.
197. If you liked this list, click here to share this on Facebook and get your friends smiling.

If the first thing you try doesn’t work, pick something else from the list – I guarantee there’s an idea here that can make you smile.

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