Okay, I know that at least three of you rolled your eyes at the title. I did a little inward eye roll myself, but I’m trying to put a positive spin on the first day of this week. In that spirit, here are the things that are making me perkier than normal on this Monday morning:

 

• Photos of animals smiling. I can’t remain grumpy in the face of such cuteness.
• My Letter to Fear: Essays on Life, Love and the Search for Prince Charming is now among the 2014 Award Contest Finalists at Readers’ Favorites!  I get excited any time someone connects with the material, and to see it among the work of so many fantastic writers makes me doubly pleased.
• The book also received another positive review! On Sunday, One Page at Time’s Aizel Macaldo posted a review of the book that made my heart sing. I loved that she included the pieces that she found particularly relatable (I’m always curious). You can read it here: One Page at a Time.