A celebration, explanation, and apology for #100happydays

The 100 Happy Days foundation is a group of people dedicated to making the world happier. Simple as that. They have reached out to the world by creating a social media challenge, daring you to share a picture to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram every day for 100 days. Again, a simple plan with a simple goal- proving to yourself and the world that we each have something to be happy about and grateful for everyday. I love the theory behind this, and wholeheartedly believe that doing this each day can make you a more positive, optimistic, grateful and happy person. With that attitude in mind, I signed myself up and started the challenge on March 24th on my way to New York.

Here are some of my reflections and thoughts now that my days of happiness are up:
1. 100 days is a long time. Most definitely 100 days was a long time for me, but must have seemed even longer for my poor Instagram followers who had to tolerate my daily posts for months on end. Mind you, some didn't tolerate them and unfollowed me (tisk tisk). Posting each day created an added stress to my plate at times, and therefor defeated the purpose of celebrating my daily happiness. 

2. It is called a challenge for a reason. I got inspired to do 100 Happy Days by seeing 6 other people on my own Instagram feed start the challenge, but only one of those people actually completed it. Snaps for that, hooray for social media. Sure there were times when I wanted to quit, but the fear of giving up and being humiliated because of it trumped all other concerns. I did not want to be a failure.

3. True friends. These are the ones who text you when 11pm rolls around to remind you that you haven't annoyed Instagram yet today. These are the artists who pick countless filters, add saturation to your pale face, and step in when a light leak simply isn't necessary. These are the journalists who determine the perfect caption, location and hashtag when my thumbs gave out. Thank you for taking pictures, being in pictures, stopping me from posting a desperate TBT, and still liking my photo even in the worst of times. I would have given up on #day25 without you. Much love

4. I am happier. There were days when my post of happiness added a smile to my face, or made someone else feel happy- and that is all I wanted to achieve. Some pictures would have never been taken, some memories never captured, and some nights not remembered without being prompted by the necessity of a post. I love that I can look back and have timeline of my life in the past 100 days, each day documented and celebrated no matter the weather.

5. I probably annoyed you. I did this challenge for me, not for you. If my 100 pictures were annoying to you, made you judge me, or clogged up your feed- I apologize. But I really hope at least one day made you smile, laugh, or think. Thanks for 'liking' my pictures anyways and I promise to never post that much again. 

A highlight reel of #100happydays

 Day 2: New York

This trip made me so happy, and this specific day was filled with 3 of my favorite museums and 2 of my favorite people. It was a good way to kick off the next 98 days of happiness. 

Day 14: SOS

I got to know some of the most incredible people on this retreat, and on that day I could have never known how much each of them would mean to me as the year went on. Love y'all #friendship

Day 38: Mean Girls

I distinctly remember having so much fun taking this little photo shoot to celebrate Mean Girls and #pinkformarsha. I never stop having fun with you Noodle, and you have always been my biggest fan and advocate even when I don't deserve it. I love you more than Harry 

Day 56: All smiles for 13.1 miles

Just when it seemed like everything was going wrong, something went right. I finished my first half marathon!! Such a happy day, and it would not have been possible without my amazing Mama. Thanks for being more fit than me and making me run the whole way- you're a rockstar. 

Day 100: The longest day

The last happy day was also the biggest adventure. I had never felt so much pressure to post a magnificent picture and coincidentally I had never felt so tired in my life. But good friends pulled through and at a slightly sketchy rest stop between Portland and Eugene #day100 was documented. 

Check out the website that sparked this journey: 100happydays.com

With love and happiness,

Sarah Belle

'The Gap' Fear of beginnings, future, and failure

THE GAP- by Ira Glass

https://vimeo.com/85040589

(Even if you don't read the following blog about this video, WATCH IT. It is very deserving of the next 2 minutes and 18 seconds of your life.)

Hello fellow person, I hope you enjoyed the video.

I come from a world of high expectations. 
I am expected to be happy.
I am expected to work hard.
I am expected to achieve my dreams. 

I am expected to be beautiful

I am expected to be successful.

Obviously 'success' can only be defined by yourself, but I was always told that you will find success if you do what you are passionate about. If only it was that easy.... What are you passionate about? Can you describe it in one word, sentence, major, or career path? Nope, me either. My future is filled with many options, many opportunities for success or failure. But who defines failure? I believe that a fear of failure is born at the beginning of any experience; somewhat ironically unavoidable. I love what Ira Glass says about this dilemma. Glass identifies 'the Gap' as the difference between what you know your potential is and the quality of the content you are actually producing. As a creator, a student, and as a person I believe in my own potential but also see the quality gap between where I am and could be. This is disappointing for sure, but also enlightening. Every person starts their journey at the beginning, so the only way is up. 
I am a beginner. The only thing to do is to try and try again- keep creating until my work is something to be proud of. 

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? 

-Robert Schuller

With love and expectations,

Sarah Belle