How often have you heard a statement started that way this week?  Even those with the best intentions will walk down the “I hate…” path from time to time.  Unfortunately, the colors of that sentiment can be found running throughout our entire society.  The evening news covers mostly tragedy, much of it stemming from negative feelings.  Even our democratic process, the jewel of western civilization and freedom, is filled with smear campaigns, disenfranchised voters, and a disgruntled public.

Partially to remedy this problem, I spend my days forcing myself towards the positive.  The bus that cuts me off in traffic is annoying, yes, but it is causing less harm to the environment by transporting many than I am in my single-occupancy vehicle.  The price of gas might be going up, but it reminds me of the value in everything else I choose to spend my money on.

Several months ago, I received an email about AngryJournalist.com.  This is a website where journalists can, anonymously, vent their frustrations with the trade, their colleagues, or the world in general.  While I will never argue against having outlets for your frustration, I find the overall negative theme of the site to be a little disturbing.

In response to AngryJournalist, I created InspiredSmiles.com as a project with Jumping Duck Media.  The goal of this site is to give people an anonymous forum to share stories about what made them smile during their day at work, school, or anywhere.  In what other ways can we turn “I hate…” into “I appreciate…”?  I’d love to hear your ideas!