Does Each Day Have the Potential to be the Best Day of My Life?

Haley here. It all started two weeks ago as my sister, Claire, and I were driving back to good ole Purdue after Christmas break. Now to be honest, this drive really kind of sucks. We usually have a weird adrenaline rush the first 40 minutes of the journey to campus as the excitement of new beginnings and possibilities of the start of a new semester set in, followed by approximately an hour of each of us trying our very hardest to sing each song on the radio until we develop bronchitis (literally, we think we're really good singers to the point that it’s kind of ridiculously annoying), and ultimately the last portion of the 3 hour drive is full of the realism of starting new classes that have the potential to be stupidly hard and having to be on a schedule again (also, the last 40 minutes usually contains diet soda or teas of our choosing and then complaining about having to pee, but having nowhere to stop).

But on this particular drive, I heard an obnoxious radio host describe a philosophy that I found to be strikingly intriguing. "Today could be the best day of your entire life." My thoughts spiraled as my mind consumed this radical idea. Side-note: I'm literally one of the most dramatic people I have ever witnessed, so when I heard this relatively simple line for the first time in my 20 years of semi-superb existence, I thought I was having some sort of strange Native-American like epiphany. Although up until this point during the day, my life had consisted of glumly saying goodbye to my family, packing 6,000 pounds of my belongings into the back of Claire's car, belting Miley, and looking forward to an Arnold Palmer. I had become enveloped and curious about the possibility of something miraculous happening. I mean for my day to suddenly become the best day of my life, something huge and crazy and wonderful has to occur, right? Like some monumental pinnacle? Although, true story: Recently I was driving and received a phone call that my best friend had found her wedding dress, causing me to stop at a gas station to jump around like a complete freak-spaz in the parking lot for about 7 minutes. After this exhausting celebration, I went inside and purchased a super refreshing Diet Dr. Pepper and as I drove away into the night, Lenny Kravitz’s "Fly Away" came on the radio. I immediately started tearing up and convinced myself that of all the good days in my life, this was the best. It might have been the mixture of gas fumes, artificial sweeteners and my psychotic mannerisms, but it was just supreme. Ok, after putting that down into words, I realize that I'm truly the saddest person of life. Oh well.

Alright, back to the point. After having two weeks to ponder the thought of this overwhelming potential, I have a few thoughts. I feel like in my life I have always yearned so desperately for the nonexistent feeling of being at my prime, of living the best days, of having everything and having the opportunity to do anything. What I have realized is that I'm probably never going to have the best day ever. Honestly, that is not at all me being a pessimist or believing that I cannot attain a moment of pure bliss. It just means that when I look back at my life, I want to be able to admit that I lived, not waiting around, with some days being better than others, and that I pursued things that I was passionate about with no regrets. I want the good days to outweigh the bad and I want to know that I affected people around me with pure, genuine love.

At this moment in time, in my 20 year old wisdom-filled heart (scratch the wisdom, I'm kind of sporadic and spontaneous, maybe not wise. Also I have a hole in my heart, so maybe "defected" would be a better adjective to describe my heart) I can, with confidence, say that:

1. I have the best family. Truly, however dysfunctional and crazy we may be, I could not imagine being surrounded by and raised by any other people. The best, the best, the best. Seriously.

2. My friends… again, the greatest. I literally been so wonderfully blessed in my life when it comes to friends. Whenever people ask me who my best friend is, I list off like 14 people. I choose to surround myself with beautiful people who are weird and strange and total comedic geniuses and I love it, more than anything else.

3. I serve a gracious, merciful God. I really don't think that this needs an explanation. Words are hard to find when it comes to describe my faith and my God. He is too good, too awesome (AWESOME defined: causing feelings of wonder: causing awe), so overwhelmingly full of grace. He has blessed me with everything.

Whoohoo, God is good, family is good, friends are good, food is good. Life…IS GOOD.

So, let's reflect. Reflect on our lives and the people in it. Reflect on the opportunities that lay before us and the mistakes we have made in the past. Let's rejoice in our God and the unbelievable blessings we have been given. Seriously, if each day we wake up and we think of everything that we have to be grateful for, how could we not be living the best day ever, the best days every day? Sounds pretty crazy. And maybe it isn't possible, but at least give each day a chance.

After reading this, I hope that I'm not portrayed as some "hippy freak love child", actually yes, do think of me as that because that's hilarious. Just kidding, but seriously. I am the queen of negativity, especially in the morning. I literally once had a streak going, for at least like 14 months straight, where I would wake up and curse the day. Seriously, like curse. As in use profanities. Like literally wake up and say, "This day is stupid", but replace "stupid" and come up with something slightly more creative. I've changed my ways, somewhat. I use effort, each day. Like sometimes physical effort. I strive to be optimistic when I wake up and continue to stay optimistic when I'm crossing the streets on Purdue's campus and almost get nailed by 4 different vehicles, optimism through my multiple 2.5 hour labs, optimistic when I'm tired and hangry (yes, "hangry", meaning angry because I'm hungry, which is almost 24/7).

These last two weeks have been good. Regardless, getting back into the swing of things at school has been difficult. Persevering through this weeks past tragedy has been difficult. Sometimes days will be difficult. But whenever life gets complex, in the back of my mind I have stored, "Each day has the potential to be the best day of my life. Yes, times might be hard in this exact moment, at this exact time in my life, but it'll all be good, wonderful, legit, the best. Just make it through." And for the days where it's hard to take your own advice, it's not so bad to lean on a friend or a family member, or the homeless man across the street. Coming from Miss Independent herself, without my supporters, who the heck knows where'd I'd be? It's not showing weakness, it's being strong and being able to admit that life is hard.

So here's to making each day the best day of your life. And if not your own, contribute to someone else's. This world can be dark, so let's make it our goal to be the light. To show love, to relish in comedy, to show real emotion and spontaneity. Challenge yourself. Challenge others. YOU CAN DO IT…and if you can't, below is a ridiculous list of tips/steps/advice/funny things to improve your day composed by yours truly, HJM.

1. Laugh at yourself at least once a day. We all do stupid things, and if you’re like any of us, you probably find them either extremely embarrassing or ridiculously funny. You’re allowed to think that you’re funny. So laugh at yourself.

2. Call your mom or dad or sibling or someone who loves to compliment you. Seriously, nothing makes your day better than receiving compliments. And whoever you call or talk to, give them a compliment back. Spread the joy.

3. Take this quiz: http://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/quiz-what-food-matches-your-personality It’s hilarious and it’s about food, so honestly, what could be better?

4. Watch this vine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3oParxDyyY . It’s literally one of the funniest things we’ve ever seen and we laugh SO hard every time we see it. You won’t be disappointed.

5. Draw a mustache on your index finger and hold it up to your face throughout the day. Mustaches make the world go ‘round.  

6. Pump up the jam. Find some good space, blare the best song and go crazy. If your moves can be described as a mixture of smooth and epileptic then you know you are doing something right.

7. Crack open a good book. Harry Potter, Soul Pancake, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and other concerns) just to suggest a few that will allow you to fall into a good story and stimulate that brain. And if reading isn’t your thing, do it anyway. We find that reading a good book is a great trigger to initiate an even better nap.

8. Watch a video from Kid President. He is literally the cutest, wisest, most funny child ever. His spazzy ways will encourage you and give you a good laugh. After viewing, you might even have a few new killer dance moves.

9. Eat ice cream. One time Haley and Maria ate an entire container of mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt in less than 24 hours. It was disgusting, but also so delicious that it didn’t even matter. Sometimes you just need to reward yourself for being awesome.

10. Watch the Office. Seriously, you will not regret it. It is everything you need in life. Not only is it full of the most comical quotes, the greatest love story of our generation, and John Krasinski (seriously try not to fall in love, we dare you), but it teaches us valuable lessons on friendship and life...and how to deal with a ridiculous boss. 

What are your tips for making each day the best day of YOUR life? Comment below… We want to hear your opinions!

And with that, HJM out.