Tuesday Morning Thoughts: A Smile a day...

Coming into work this morning, I found myself smiling. Not an odd occurrence by any means, but today, I was actually cognizant of the brightness on my face...even though I didn't want to be smiling at all today. I wanted to be wrapped up in my misery from work, and the fact that I felt uncomfortable there now, but the smile on my face betrayed that. Every person I passed or hailed a greeting to, was privy to my smile that seemed to come from some inner place that I don't know about. I smiled in spite of myself and noticed some stuff:

One, when I smiled, it brightened the person's face that I came in contact with. Two, it made someone who was already smiling, smile even brighter. One man said that he saw my smile before he saw me and then added: "I'm not coming on to you, it's the truth." Another person said that she loves to see my smile in the morning as it gives her "impetus" to start her day properly. Another man said that he loves to see me smile, then he'll know I'm okay and I wouldn't have to say so myself. I didn't want to tell him that I wasn't, not because I didn't want to unload on the poor old man, but because I didn't want to ruin his day. So I smiled even brighter and told him "thank you" and went on my way...heart lifted.

There is a prayer chorus that goes: "Smile awhile and give your face a rest. Raise your hand, to the one you love the best. Then shake hands, with those nearby. And greet them with a smile." If you start your day with a smile, one that isn't just coming from being polite, but a genuine smile, see how better your day gets. You're not the only who benefits from your smile. Think about it: When others beam you a genuine smile, does it not cause you to smile, too? Everything might be crashing down around you, but find something today to smile genuinely about. Stop being a negative little shit! The world is filled with negative shit already; meet it with a smile and change your outlook. You'd be surprised to see how your entire world changes for a moment with just a smile. There's always a reason to smile. It's on you to find it...toothless or not ;)

"Things don't seem so bleak, if you can smile when you're weak." ~ Ghiselle, 2015©