Have you ever looked closely at an exclamation point?
Don’t tell the punctuation people, but just between us…
….it’s nothing to write home about.
Seriously.
It’s a line with a dot.
Simple. Unassuming. Uncomplicated.
But here’s the brilliance of a little unassuming punctuation—when you see it at the end of a sentence doesn’t it make you smile? Give you hope? Let you know that the writer is happy to be talking to you? Engage you? Make you believe there’s a brighter tomorrow.
Case in point:
I like you. I like you!
Your fall hutch is cute. Your fall hutch is cute!
Wait until you see how I decorated my hutch. Wait until you see how I decorated my hutch!
See what I mean?
It’s never the end of the conversation with an exclamation point…
…it’s just the beginning.
Why?
Why don’t we use more exclamation points?
Why is it that positive punctuation sprinkled with a little more positive punctuation sometimes are forgotten and swept aside….
…..and we embrace the negative instead?
Why does a single negative un-exclamation pointed statement stick?
Who even gave the negative permission to take up residence and start ordering rent-to-own furniture?
Truth?
I’m the first one to say “brush it off” and “who cares” and “remember how amazing you are” and “they probably still have maroon shag carpeting in their home.”
I try to concentrate on the good, not the bad.
But sometimes the overwhelmingness of it all can bring you down. Make you sad. Make your heart heavy.
Especially lately.
No one really has a filter anymore.
You’re sitting at home about to watch a Hallmark movie marathon and the crickets are chirping and the sun is shining and the laughter is all around you and you pull up your phone and glance for a moment….
…..and your heart stops.
Negativity and ugliness just knocked at your door.
So this week I tried something different.
I didn’t answer when negativity came knocking.
Instead?
I took all that energy that I spend on sadness and thinking and worrying….
….and flipped the script.
I tried with every last little bit of everything I had inside of me to leave exclamation points wherever I went.
I pushed my cart through WalMart and smiled at everyone and if they didn’t smile back, I grinned even more. I commented on blogs with dozens of exclamation points. I told a random lady in aisle four of the dollar store that her nail polish was pretty. I extra tipped and then ran away before they noticed. I called my mom and told her she was amazing.
I smiled so much that I made myself laugh.
And guess what happened?
It was amazing.
You are brilliant—so you know where this is going. I was so busy being positive that I forgot all about the negative. It couldn’t compete.
And the best part?
The more exclamation points I gave away, the more I had to give.
They multiplied.
And now?
I have extra.
So just in case you are reading this post and are sad or overwhelmed or stressed or feeling alone or tired or weary or worn….
….here’s a little punctuation just for you (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
PS Now it’s your turn.
Don’t keep that punctuation all to yourself.
There’s a world that needs it. 🙂
PPS If you are on the East Coast facing down Hurricane Florence, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
I read your blog every day, just not this early usually. So glad I did this morning, as it's starting my day off better!!!!! You are ABSOLUTELY correct about smiling and being positive!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!
Thank you! YOU are the best!!
WOW!!!! What a great reminder!!! Thank you for starting my day off with a bang!!! You are AMAZING!! Thank you!
I absolutely love this!!!!! It really works doesn’t it!!!! I try to do that whenever I go out! I love to see people smile- it makes such a difference in everyone’s life including our own!!!! :)
You give and you get EXTRA exclamation points!!!!!! People feel better being around you. What a gift. !!! And, keep yourself so busy being positive that "ain't nobody got no time for negativity" :)
I loved it!!! I'm an exclamation point over-user myself, but I'd never considered it this way. Thank you for such a wonderful start to my morning!
Thanks! Your pep talk was just what I needed this week!
YES Karianne!!!!! PREACH!!!!! My kids think it's a riot because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE exclamation points and they can hear my happiness and excitement every time they read a text from me followed by a gazillion exclamation points!!!! Thanks for a wonderful and meaningful blog today!!!!
Me too! My son once said to me, “you sure do use a lot of exclamation points “ lol
I agree!!!! Get out negativity....you are not welcome here!!! Thanks for the uplifting post Karianne.....these days we certainly need more smiles and positivity 😊
You're AMAZING!!!!!!!! I really needed this!!!!!!!! Thank you, sweet & precious friend!!!!!!!! Thanks for everything you do!!!!!!!! Roll Tide!!!!!!!!
I sometimes feel like I use too many exclamation points in my emails and texts! But thank you!!! Thanks for the permission to exclaim!!!! We need more people like you!! And I like you too!!!! :)
♥️!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love exclamation points and I love how you can take an exclamation point and write a great blog post! Can’t wait to see you at Pinners. I’ll be there cheering you on girl! XOXO
Wow! That was sooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!! Thx for reminding us to keep on spreading positivity! Just perfectly awesome!!! Thank you!!!!
God bless you Karianne!!!!!!!! ❤️
i normally use a lot of exclamation points and had never thought of them being negativity chasers, but they are!!! or, swords of enthusiasm!! thanks for the reminder!!
Oh I like that! Swords of enthusiasm. I will never look at exclamation points the same way again. And Karianne, you are our exclamation point!
You are one of my favorites!!!
What a fun post! I, too, use exclamation points regularly. I will now use more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen Karianne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I catch myself overusing exclamation points all the time and reel it back. Thanks to this post, I'm going to use them with abandon!!! Thanks Karianne!!!
Wonderful post!!!!! Wonderful you!!!! Have a GREAT (!) weekend. :-)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Right back at you and thanks for the reminder to "think positive". We all sure need it today and everyday as we're becoming a very negative world, it's so sad. God bless!
You have a precious heart. You're leaving a legacy and you probably don't even see it that way. Bless you!
Exactly what I needed to hear today! KariAnne Wood you are the best! You've got this! PS: I love love love my new devotional, it was a birthday present to myself and I'm saving them for a celebration on the 9th of each month!!!!!!
Yes! Remember that hurt people hurt people. You like to spread the joy you feel inside to others you meet throughout your day. I am the same. Also, that was nice of you to mention those in the path of the hurricane. A year ago it was me and Hurricane Irma came hard. I remember opening blogs to read them and just couldn't because we were facing something so serious and I couldn't think about decorating mantels and things like that at the time. I'm sorry you found negativity. I have a theory when I see thumbs down on YouTube videos. I believe 10% of the people are just hurt and will be negativeand try to hurt others. So if 10% of the comments are negative, you just have to say it's not about you, but it's about them. Don't let that 10% bring you down! Happy day to you!!
You are amazing!!! This is SO true!
Spreading happiness everywhere you go-thanks for passing it along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So you are someone who enjoys exclamation points as much as I do. This is a good thing! Sometimes I think I over use them when writing.. YOU just gave me permission to use all I want because they will multiply! Good post, making folks think MORE positive about life!
This is exactly what makes you so special, Karianne! And why I love you so much!!! (Notice all the exclamation points!) I love spreading joy too. One favorite time was stuck in traffic with the windows down and the tunes cranked up singing. Everyone around me started doing the same thing! Another time I kept waving and smiling at 2 elderly ladies walking their dogs as I left for work. They actually scowled at me! But I kept waving EVERY DAY. Until those scowls faded, then faint smiles appeared. Then one day, about THREE MONTHS LATER, it happened. They waved back!!!!! Now we’re neighborly friends. LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE!!!!! PS- We evacuated Charleston SC and are sitting on the screened porch of my friend’s vacation home on St Simons Island, GA. Listening to music, relaxed, trusting God to protect our home. I know He will!!!!
I’m pretty new to your blog and today I was feeling overwhelmed and a little down and a little worry some about my grand babies in North Carolina, so thank you, thank you for your post today. 10 smiles or more out of me and lots of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This makes me smile just as much as your beautiful photos do!!!
Thank you for this! I love exclamation marks. My boss used to get so peeved that I used them in my emails to him. He didn't like them. Differences of opinion happen, but I use them anyway!!!! Thanks for the encouragement to share a smile with everyone. It really does change your own feelings about the day!
So true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This world would be so much happier,so much more peaceful,and so much more enjoyable!!!!!!!!! Let’s share folks!!!!!Let’s smile,just because we can!!!!!!!! And...see what happens!!!!!!!!!!😁🎉💥🌈💕 PS..Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KariAnne! Goodness and happiness is your style! Spread it sister!
You my friend are the one that is the most awesomest!!! I may have misspelled that but you know what I mean! I tell my granddaughter all the time to remember what Thumper's Daddy said, if you can't say something nice don't say nothin at all!!!!!!! Rock on my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sometimes we all need a reminder to focus on the positive, best and brightest things. I try to get an hour long walk in every day, and realized I was always looking down, or at least at things that were at my eye level. So I was amazed at how fantastic everything appeared when I took just a few moments to look UP!!!!!
Thank you for all of the exclamation points! I really needed them today. I promise to pass it on!
❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
Thank you for your uplifting, positive-energy post! People respond favorably to happy people, and you are a happy face to us all. (❤️💕!!!) On a separate note, I just love the little squares next to the commenters’ posts. Aren’t they just the cutest little Amish-quilt looking squares, different designs and colors, like those often seen on barns in some areas of the country?! Makes me want to copy them, maybe an art installation similar to your wall.
Love all of it!! And I have no idea who would ever send any negativity your way...evidently they have no idea who they are up against!!
Yas Queen!!!!!!! It’s in my D.N.A. to see the glass is half full, but not everyone is as lucky. For those who have a hard time seeing the positive in their surroundings, they have YOU Karianne!!!!! I love your hutch!!! I feel the need to acquire apples and display them. Fall is here!!!!! Love, Marjie
Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are an amazing writer!! Thanks for the reminder on how easy it is to be just a little nicer in this crazy world!
Dear Karianne….I need to move to Texas or you need to move to Oregon....right next-door to me...please. Until we make those arrangements, I'll simply open up your pages each day to gain a lighter step on my way out the door.....Thanks!!!!!
Preach!!!!!!! I personally love to use entirely too many !!!!!! And I’m unapologetic about this. Happy early September day my friend!
Karianne, You are a Joy!!!!..I have not been feeling well and am on antibiotics!!..They are starting to work...Bringing blessings to people by being positive and smiling is a gift.!!!I love spreading cheerfulness around!!!!!...I too enjoy all the different little quilt squares on your post!!...My mother taught me to compliment others. Making others smile is a Gift and you have it!!
Thank you precious lady!!!! I needed this post!! And YOU are amazing and LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3
Oh I love this!!!!!! And I love using lots of exclamation points. Your blog always makes me use them.!!!!!!
This just might have to be one of your greatest posts ever...and so, so timely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;))))
Thanks so much!!! I needed your extra love today!! I was sitting in my bathroom crying and trying to shake off all the hard things in my life right now when I read your post!!! You are amazing and inspired!!! I’m sorry you have negativity in your life too!! God bless you!! He is certainly aware of us and our challenges!!! Thanks for being so cute and amazing!!! PS I love your hutch ❤️❤️❤️😘😘
Thank you for this wonderful reminder! My use of exclamation points has irritated some co-workers in the past, so I usually write my message with my usual number of !!! - then read back over & lessen or redistribute those little positive signs. I read your blog message just after receiving a call from the school counselor. Discussing 5th grade homework completion and assignment books can make a person feel the very opposite of a cheerful !.
Thanks for the positive reminder! You are amazing!
YOU are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, you amazingness is why, even though my life has become SUPER busy, I still read your blog, and only your blog, every chance I get. Keep up the awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are all blessed that you were born to be a blogger!
AMEN!!!!!
I'm going to stop worrying about the exclamation point police after reading this wowzer of a post! I love these posts of yours that leave me believing in myself and in others! Thank you!!!
PREACH IT, GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!! You remind me of what my grandmother used to tell me: “ Be the kind of person that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, ‘Damn, she’s up.’” My first comment! From a relatively new subscriber! And, book buyer! Jane
Thank you for this post. Really needed this. My dad passed away a month ago, been really hard! If you are giving yourself away no time for negativity or sadness!!! Love this!!!!
🙏🙏🙏 for you Sheila.
Absolutely love this! Spread love and !!!!!!!!!s!
You made me smile! I use exclamation points a lot. It just looks so much more exciting. See a picture of a cute puppy. Respond: cute. Meh, boring. But...cute!!! Ah, that's more like it. Have an amazing, happy day!!! Prayers for our storm-threatened neighbors.
Thank you Kari Anne I needed those exclamation points today!!! You brought a much needed smile to my face!!!
Awesome post!! I usually write texts and then go back and take out "extra" exclamation points! I don't need to do that any more! I don't think you have any idea of the far reaching good you do every day. Oh, we need so many Kariannes in this world!!
You are too sweet lady!!!!!!!!! I think the exclamation mark needs a smiley face instead of the dot! I agree. Let’s spread kindness and love!
I truely love your posts and always look forward to them. But today, reading it was extra special. I, like several million others, spent the day yesterday in the car driving down the coast, away from my home. Depressing and stressful. I needed to hear your comments. You made me feel happy. Thank you!
Oh so true!!!!!! I find that if I smile at someone who has a frown or furrowed brow, it usually perks them up!! Particularly cashiers who may be having a crappy day! I'm always using exclamation points when I write!!!!! I'm sure people think I'm nuts!!! Have a great rest of your week Karianne!! ps...thanks for the reply yesterday! And love your hutch for fall!!!!
Oh, geez, exclamation points. I hate them. I think they are overused. I think they are like those fake smiles that salespeople give you when you are asking a legitimate question and they would prefer that you drop dead. YET, anytime I end a comment or a reply with a period, it feels SO SAD. Devoid of energy. Unfriendly. I want to deliver a heartfelt smile. Encouragement. Sincerity. This is, of course, the challenge of the written word. I work from a PC, so I don't do emoticons. Maybe there's a way, but, being more than age 13, I am too old to know it. BTW, if you don't know the podcast 99% Invisible, it's totally worth checking out. And they actually had an episode about punctuation--the "interrobang," a real thing, which is the love-child of the exclamation point and question mark. Look it up and enjoy!
My mother always said, 'when there is ugliness, you be beautiful'. And I love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Find the Good! My exclamation points are running outside the margins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! laura in colorado
Karianne you are Extra!!! I love the color you have added to your new/old home. When you first started your decorating it was pretty but just not quite you. You are sparkly joy, light and love. Now your house matches you!
I love exclamation points!!!! I use them all the time!! Someone was told me I use them to much, so I stopped using them so much. :( After reading your blog post today, I will go back to using exclamation points all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank YOU!!! Jackie
KariAnne...you are a ROCKSTAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for always bringing sunshine to my day!!!!!😊
You are AMAZING! And this is such a good word for today. You always make me smile! Taking your advice to heart and putting out a some punctuation ❣️
For some reason, being positive is hard work, but it can be a bright spot in someone's dreary day. !!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a rock star!!!
!!!!!!!! Kari Anne !!!!!!!! You are fabulous for reminding us to use !!!!!!!! And love.❤️
I actually cried reading your post!! Thank you for all the beauty and love you bring into this world!!!!!! XO!!!
And here I thought I was using them too often!!!!!!... Oops.. 😉
Wow!!! I read your wonderful, spirited blog and all the positive comments. You are an amazing decorator and writer. Saturday, my little book of devotions will arrive. I can’t wait!!! When I taught 8th grade language arts and read great writing or fabulous character analysis, my comments were followed by lots of exclamation marks.
Love your fall styling! A few years ago I took to speaking and smiling at everyone I would meet coming or going. Most of them smile and speak, some ignore me, but that's ok. Maybe they didn't hear me or their mind is elsewhere, we never know. It just makes me happy to smile!!!! and yes I love exclamation points and use them a lot!!!! :) I received my Country Living magazine yesterday and the new color is everywhere! lol Sweaters, scarves, shoes, jackets, furniture......you name it. But I really like it. Keep styling......
Needed this today, friend. Thank you! I will never understand why someone would take time out of their day to send ugliness online. Glad you showed them!! Not sure anyone could ever be able to dim your smile. Shame on them for even trying.
Karianne , Thank you for the exclamation point celebration today !!! I always use them and often feel that I should edit my exuberant over-use !!!! I have learned today to not apologize for my joy !!!!
: ) !!!!!!!
LOL I wish I had commented earlier today 'cause today was POSITIVE THINKING DAY!!! Yay! Good replaces bad, positive replaces negative, and praise replaces...well...all that's wrong! Couldn't live without those exclamation marks! :D
😃
I LOVE this!!!!!
OMGosh! I so needed to hear this today! You are so, so sweet and a really and truly good person. A hater never wins. Negative comments that are used to hurt rather than help are just out of line and we needn't spend our energy replying. It is however, very hard to keep that little ticker tape of comments and possible replies from playing over and over in our heads. I haven't been through what you have, I just have a few toxic people in my life and it has become so overwhelming that I don't know which way to turn. So I'm taking a cue from you. Smile and spread some happiness! Jane xo
Thanks so much Karianne for this post of encouragement! I've cried a couple of times this week over sad things that I cannot control - but today it hit me how blessed I am! I still wish I could change the sad things and I'll keep trying to think of ways to at least help - but in the meantime I'll give out more smiles, try thinking positive, and give out lots of "!" in my sentences. Bless you! (I'm in NC, but more inland - praying for our coast)
KariAnne, Thank you for the sweet email reply to my last comment. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Judith
You are amazing!!!!
It's been a really bad week with a much beloved sick dog and your post brightens my day! I just love your blog, your way with words and your beautiful spirit!! I'm a big exclamation person and you deserve many because through your blog you make the world a better place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, negativity and ugliness says more about the person spreading it than the person it is directed toward! Bless your little smiling, joyful soul for bring that beautiful smile to all around you, ROCKSTAR!!! Pat
You are amazing!!!!! You inspire of daily ! Thanks for the bottom of my heart.
YES!!! I am a big believer in exclamation points -and your post and YOU are amazing! Spread sunshine! Smile! You never know how your comments can pick people up - God Bless!!!
ABSOLUTELY! 💃 (TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE FILTER-LESS PEOPLE. HOW RUDE!!!!!)
You are so right about exclamation points. Like you, I try to smile at everyone. Even if they don’t smile, it still makes me feel better!!!!!!
Ahhh, I needed this today! Thanks! I will be paying it forward :) !!!
I TOTALLY over-use exclamations, but I can't help it! ;-) And... YOU ROCK!!!!! Hugs!
Love!!!!!!! You!!!!!!! So!!!!!!! Much!!!!!!!
😍‼️
I so love this!
Exclamation marks gratefully received across the pond in England !!! Smile and the world smiles with you etc etc !!! All our thoughts are with those people in the eye of the storm on your East Coast X
Exclamation marks gratefully received in North Carolina !!! My family is ALL safe (Jacksonville, Wilmington and Raleigh) and in clean-up mode and will be for days.!!! We are all working together to ge it done!!! (I like groups of 3 exclamation marks) Currently looking a generator for granddaughter and three great grands in Wilmington!!!!!
Beautifully written encouragement. Thank you for touching so many lives with a positive message, Karianne.
You are loved!!!! Thank you for sharing your talent and being so kind and full of life! I feel like you’re one of my best friends!!! ❤️
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Your posts always leave me with a smile on my face! I think everyone should be reading what you wrote here and trying a little harder to bring their own positive outlook to the world because it really does feel amazing after you do.
Good for you!!!!!! This is a great post and an affirmation for me since I use bunches of exclamation points! My family gives me a hard time about it, so now I have a explanation for the exclamations!Blessings to you, J
Hi, KariAnne! In addition to sharing explanation points, I keep a strict media diet. I find that reading the news, rather than watching it, makes me feel less overwhelmed. I love following your blog and a few others, but find that limiting screen time and choosing the more constructive blogs enhances my day. I do not have a "fancy phone" as service here at the farm is spotty at best and, for that, I am grateful. Please continue to be the cheerleader you are!
Karianne, it's hard not to let those negative gremlins steal our joy sometimes...I get it. We all just have to remind ourselves that giving it attention gives it power--and we all must continue to refuse to do that. Have a beautiful day my friend!!!!
I wonder about the negativity that is sent your way (or others.) It is really their problem and not yours, or mine, but if it's sent my way it takes my breath away, but then I can breath again and laugh and feel free--but they cannot--they must live in their own little world.! We can strive to live, laugh and love to our hearts content!!!
You are positively personified!!!!!!! You brighten everyone's day just by being you! What a blessing you are!!!!