Showing your daughter what beauty is

This article was powerful to read.  It made me sad, but also made me feel better knowing someone else feels as I do.  One day, in a few years, my baby is going to have likes and dislikes. She will be exposed to outside forces to influence those tastes as well.  Even more, it's horrifying to think of all the mean people that are out there who will judge and bully her if she likes things they don't.   


Then again, she'll have to look no further than me to get her first life lessons.  She'll see what I think is beautiful and it will influence her. 


I also know, if she ever knew about what I really think about myself when I look in the mirror, I'd immediately influence her negatively.  She would start to critique every little thing about her perfect little face and body.  I don't want that for her.   I want her to know that it's ok to acknowledge you have good physical and personality traits.  I'm committed to work hard to be a good role model for her in this way. 

Scientific evidence that smiling works

Smiling can help you live longer.  The people that smile more have better lives, and longer lives.  This doesn't surprise me at all.  The challenge is having the attitude and perspective to be open to those things that can inspire a smile.  We have to look no farther for inspiration than kids.  They do it so naturally, and apparently smile over 400 times per day, in comparison to the average adult who smiles about 30 times. 


Watch:

Flower Explosion

How amazing would it be to see this in person?

State of Mind

I loved this commercial.  Even if it is a fake commercial, and completely baseless science, it matters.  We all could use this reminder. 

You are great!

This is adorable.  I get it.  I can't tell you how many times I could have used this type of pep talk.  Good dad!

Giving even if you have little to give

I loved reading this story about a man with so little, who gives so much.  It's inspirational to consider what this man is capable of, in comparison to what I am actually doing.  I have a lot of work to do.

Give when no one is watching

This made me cry.  Although I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the young boy who didn't appreciate his father until it was too late.  Nonetheless, the lesson is still valuable.  It's important to look beneath the surface of what's in front of you.  You never know who someone really is- they may never tell you themselves.