The little things.

    So. *Deep Breath* Here is it.. the first blog post. My personal position on this topic is that this very moment is the reason I have not been here already before. What do you possibly write in a first blog post? A teeny tiny suppressed fear tells me I will never think of anything worth reading, but the larger (now winning part) of my mind says it doesn't matter. Why doesn't it matter? Because while this blog exists for many reasons, there is one that is more important to me than the rest: an outlet. Creative, emotional, thought-provoking outlet. A way to get out the things I can never normally seem to get out.

So.. next obstacle: the title. This one was easy. Rays of Sunshine. It kind of sounded cliche to me at first (over thinking again...) but the more I thought about it, I began to realized why I love it so much. I know that everyone appreciates a sunny day, those first rays slipping through the blinds and onto your face in the morning, letting you know that it is now time to wake up.  But for me, it has become much more meaningful than that.

 Living in the Fraser Valley we get a lot of rain.. I mean LOTS of rain. Like maybe I should start building another ark type of rain.  (It's raining right now in fact and it will be until Saturday). Now it's not that I don't love the rain, it makes things grow and is so refreshing in its own way, but when you're driving down the the freeway and you watch the clouds open up, releasing that one quick peak of blue sky and possibly that little ray of sunshine onto an open field or the car in front of you I can't help but feel a little bit more hopeful. The rays of sunshine are what help get me through the day. 

But it's not just the literal sunbeams that brighten my day, it is so much more than that.  Over the years I have found that it is the people, moments, coincidences, realizations, ideas, family, conversations, glances that happen to come my way that will work best towards brightening my day. You all know what I'm talking about. It's been said over and over but it really is that simple. 

        Just a knowing glance, in my 8:30 am Psychology class, from a complete stranger, across the room, when my professor is saying something ridiculous will make me smile all day. 

       Getting a message from a friend I haven't talked to in a really long time, just to say that they were thinking about me will make my entire mood lighten.
        Having 3 of my (slightly deranged) brothers throw open my door last night to show me their "flame thrower" will make me scream, shake my head and smirk until it is time to go to sleep. 

        And singing at the top of my lungs and dancing like a crazy person while parked at a stop light,  then looking over and realizing that the guy next to me was watching the entire time will make me turn red, laugh hysterically and and keep laughing for the rest of my day. 

It sounds cliche, it sounds like you've heard it before (and you probably have) but it is the little things that count. Just like a sliver of blue sky leaves you hoping for a sunnier day ahead and planning for a picnic in the park, so a smile, kind word, hilarious moment, car door getting opened for you or brilliant realization puts me into a good mood for the rest of the day. They're God's gifts to us. They don't cost anything (thankfully, because I am the epitome of a  broke University student) and there is no call to return it. LORD You are so so good to us!  Please don't let me forget, and please don't let me forget to say THANK YOU!