Only Love in 2015?

As I stretch the sleep out of my limbs, I turn to see Uh-mazing Romantic Partner, eyes closed and curled in my direction with a smile on his face.  “Happy New Year, Boo,” he says.  For the 12 years I’ve woken up next to this guy, he always greets me with a smile.  I kid you not.  No matter what, the man is a morning smiler.  The first day of 2015 was no exception.  It still amazes me.  I, on the other hand, am not so consistent or positive in my early hours’ attitude.  I wonder, can I become a break of day grinner too?

Break of day in New London, NH

In her book, The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin posits you can increase your happiness quotient by consciously choosing to take small actions every day to be happier.  I read it a few years ago and I enjoyed it.  I’ll have to dig it back out and read it again.  Unless, of course, it was a victim of my big book purge last month in preparation for the New Year.  I only kept books that I hadn’t read yet or that I loved and that had an impact on me, and books that I want to reference or read again. Which was all a part of making room for the new in the New Year.  I’ll look when I get home.

My morning grinner!

Is she right?  Is whatever we want to create, including happiness, only a choice away?  If my 2012 Experiment in Prolific Creativity was any indication, I suspect it is.  Uh-mazing Romantic Partner and I were walking at the local college’s basketball court here in New London when I suddenly blurted out, “I need 2015 to be another 2012!”  In 2012 I took a risk.  I was fearless.  I put myself out in the world in a way I’d never done before.  I went after my dreams with bold and brave effort.  Of course I was scared shitless but, I took action every day anyway. And, you know what?  The fear lost.  I won.  It resulted in getting my movie Collusions shot and in the can by the end of January 2013.

Of course, we can’t go back.  I can’t recapture the exact same magic I created in 2012.  But, I can set out to create some new magic in 2015!  As I wrote yesterday, I am ready for a Year of New Beginnings.  And today, I will simply begin by following Uh-mazing Romantic Partner’s lead and make a choice to smile.  Right now.  There.  I’m doing it.  I’m smiling.  And it’s making me laugh!  Oh, that’s nice.  My first experiment in increasing that lovin’ feeling is a success!

I don’t know what this New Year will bring.  But, I do know I have a choice.  I have a choice of what actions I take every minute of every day.  I have a choice of what words come out of my mouth.  I have a choice of what thoughts I think.  I have a choice to choose love and not hate.  I may not be able to control anyone else or the outcome of every day, week or year, but, I do have a choice.

Practicing a morning smile!

Having the right to choose is freedom.  Choice is power.

The act of smiling took a millisecond to execute and it resulted in at least a minute of laughter.  That is a pretty awesome return on investment.  So, today, on day one of creating 2015, my choice is to create a smile and give thanks.  Thank you for being in my life and on this journey with me!  My wish is that we create our dreams in 2015.  It’s only a small choice away to start. Let’s go.

Until tomorrow, create from what you have…a choice to make.

Kelli Joan Bennett is a filmmaker, actress, writer, entrepreneur, advocate for creative thinking and Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Think Outside The Box Inside The Box Media.

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