Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for today: What made you smile today?

My answer: A few simple things—small moments that keep circling back in my mind, bringing my smile with them.

The highlight of my day was my morning walk with Andy. He hasn’t been feeling well the last few days and has been unusually lethargic. But today, the old Andy was back—full of energy, zooming all over the place and clearly enjoying life. That alone made me smile. He was also surprisingly well-behaved between his bursts of energy, coming when I called and walking beside me when asked. His big, fluffy tail wagged non-stop, adding to the joy of it all.

As we strolled through the neighborhood, another smile-worthy moment appeared—chalk messages on the sidewalk. At first, I wasn’t sure what they were, but then I realized they were positive affirmations written by children for each other. Phrases like Be kind, You can do it, You are a pro, and my favorite: Your are a nateral (natural). That spelling made it even sweeter—children doing their best to encourage one another.

It reminded me how easy it is to forget to give ourselves that same kind of support. I once saw a video of a little girl standing in front of a mirror, giving herself a pep talk with total confidence. It was heartwarming and inspiring. She didn’t hold back on self-love.

As an adult, I know that loving yourself is essential before you can fully welcome love from others. Still, like most people, I tend to put myself second. But honestly—how hard would it be to take just 60 seconds each morning to stand in front of a mirror and say something kind to myself?

Inspired by those chalk messages—and that joyful walk with Andy—I think I’ll go find a mirror right now. It’s mid-morning, but it’s never too late to remind yourself: Hey, I’m pretty awesome.