It is mid-summer and you can tell people are starting to get a little bored with themselves. If you spend any time on social media you noticed the “personality tests” type lists are making their rounds, and people are testing themselves to determine “how much living have you done in your life?” They always seem so negative, rewarding the quizee for doing things like having been arrested, sneaked into a movie theater, made a prank call, woke up hungover, or skipped school (hopefully not because they woke up hungover). Hardly events one should use to measure a happy, productive life.
We thought it would be refreshing to test yourself on how positive a life you are living. So give yourself a point for each of the following you’ve done. (Score an extra point for each you’ve done today!)
Score one point if you:
Woke up with a prayer, meditation, cleansing ritual or in some other way sought spiritual guidance before starting the day
Sang a song to yourself
Sang a song out loud
Wrote a note, text, or email to someone just to say hi…just “hi” and nothing else
Offered to help someone without expecting anything in return
Offered to help someone a second time knowing for sure you won’t get anything in return
Given someone a ride that took you out of your way without mentioning that fact
Smiled or laughed at a joke your told yourself
Told a joke to somebody
Laughed at somebody’s joke (bonus point for not rolling your eyes at it)
Donated to charity
Donated blood
Said “thank you”
Said “you’re welcome”
Didn’t raise your voice in anger or frustration over the last 24 hours
Smiled to a stranger
Danced in your living room
Visited or called a friend and had a real conversation
Told a child, parent, or partner “I love you” – out loud
Told a friend “I love you” – just as out loud
Hugged somebody
Hugged a teddy bear or some other security object (pillows count too)
Went to sleep with a prayer, meditation, cleansing ritual or in some other way thanked a supreme being for making it through the day
If your score is 1 or better, congratulations, there’s a good person in you! Do it again tomorrow. You know, this could make a nice daily “To Do List.”
