Header PromotionDriving home yesterday and noticed a woman striding along with a scowl on her face. If it weren't for the scowl she would have been beautiful
It got me to thinking (and we all know that's dangerous!)
She may not have had many reasons to smile, but presumably somebody loves her, and someone who loves you is reason enough to smile even when life is difficult
Because difficult and all as life may be, it's easier when you smile.
Try it out (practical exercise here!)
Scowl - ferociously
Now look at the world around you. See how you notice the negative things, the fact that the beautiful photo of your loved ones is out of alignment, that there's a winestain under the glass on the coffee table (fill in the blanks)
Now remove the scowl, realign those shoulders and bring them DOWN, relax your neck muscles and
Smile - a nice big wide smile (think about your loved ones - it'll get wider)
Look around again. Now it's the beautiful photo you see first, the smiles and love in the faces, the wineglass reminds you of the person who poured the wine, the person who chose that wine and the comfort and warmth in its sharing (fill in the blanks)
Between the two exercises your life hasn't changed one iota, you still have the same problems and the same loved ones
Think about it!
And don't forget to read while I'm away enjoying myself
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Smiling
I did read somewhere that even when you're forcing a smile it somehow works to lift your spirits. For sure, scowling never made anyone feel better.
Have a lovely summer Sadhbh
Liz
WEDDED IN A WHIRLWIND, November 2008
An "All About Romance" Desert Isle Keeper
http://www.lizfielding.com
http://lizfielding.blogspot.com
You are just a pollyanna!
You are just a pollyanna! LOL
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
Hey Liz - thanks for dropping in
I seemed to remember something like that, so I decided to test it out
FF - this morning I am anything BUT a Pollyanna (trying to get packing done with two excited children is NOT fun!)
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Yes, sharing a smile works!
I've often felt icky and overwhelmed and then taken a bit of a breather and pulled out that smile .... and it does make a person feel somewhat better
what works 100% of the time .. is to go to a busy place like the grocery store .. make eye contact with people and smile ... no need to say anything or linger with the eye contact (unless you're single and he's gorgeous!
) .... but for many you'll be pleasantly surprised of how many will smile back ..... and for some, who are scowling, you've placed that smile seed in their brains and hopefully that teeny seed will take hold and a real smile won't be far away ....
smiles can be contagious ... share one and see!
KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog
Bah Humbug! I hate to
Bah Humbug! I hate to smile when I don't feel like smiling. It almost cracks my face. And the person who tries to make me smile mùay end up regretting his/her efforts. Signed the eHQ curmudgeon
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
I'm having one of those days
and smiling won't help, It's my own fault as I forgot to mark some book reviews that I made comments on and I can't find them. The***** search engine on this site keeps freezing up on me. Plus it's going to be so hot today and that is so draining. Now I feel better cause I vented
. Now if I could only find time for the READ!
When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus
Sorry, Fake Frenchie, but you make me...
...smile just by being you curmudgeon self. LOL
Actually, it's pretty darned hard to smile when a person doesn't feel like it. And the worst thing in the world (IMO) is to present myself as 'fake'. Thankfully, I do smile a lot. In fact, I laugh a lot. But on those days when I don't feel like it...well, I just don't feel like it!
Also, I've been told that I look like I'm frowning if I'm deep in thought - which isn't often, considering my one-track mind! LOL
Sadhbh, nice coaching/encouraging blog. Does it mean you were having a hard time smiling, due to a glum day, while writing it or that you were genuinely feeling upbeat? At any rate, I'm going to try to bear this in mind right now since I've been having some computer issues. My DH is installing antispyware, and it's a gruesome experience. I'll try to smile even when I'm cursing inside.
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
- Mark Twain
I had a conversation along
I had a conversation along these lines with my husband the other day. You see, I have a habit of having bad experiences at Blows and Home Creepo (you might know them as Lowes and Home Depot). I can never get anyone to help me, and considering I'm the handy one in the family (Dh is a city boy), it hinders our home improvement projects considerably.
But lo and behold, I walk in with him and it's like the lights turn on and everyone's home. Okay, so it could be that men get taken more seriously than women at these places, but I can't deny that Dh is the "people person" side of the relationship. He does carry an aura about him, he simply comes across approachable and likeable where I....well, I make a living behind the screens of computers.
We do joke when asking him to go to Blows with me that I need his karma.
(Lori's longwinded way of saying yes, Sadhbh, you're right!)
UNLEASHED, Harlequin Blaze, November 2008 - Romantic Times Top Pick!!
FAST AND FURIOUS, Free eHarlequin On-Line Read, February 2009!!
Visit me at my blog www.LoriBorrill.blogspot.com or my web www.loriborrill.com
Another blog made me smile
When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus
Most of the time I am able
Most of the time I am able to smile, even in the face of disaster. But there are times when I find it very hard to smile. I do try!
Lori, Blows and Home Creepo, along with car dealerships and garages are are some of the most chauvinistic places. I have complained to my dh and he'll grunt, "I don't have any problems." My response starts, "Of course you don't, but that's because you have that..." sorry it gets crude here.
Nancy
Smile...
Now I have a song running through my head!! Smile, when your heart is breaking, smile even though, can't remember any more of the lyrics!!!
But you get the picture. If it wasn't for smiles, hugs and laughter I would have long ago been carted off to a mental ward!!!
Sometimes it is so hard to get yourself out of a down mood but a smile or some laughter helps to lighten it up. I love to smile at people that look like they are having a bad day, hopefully it helps them look on the bright side.
Take care, happy reading,
Donna M, Dream Team member
I had...
to laugh. Blows and Home Creepo! That fits my thoughts on them EXACTLY!!!
Fake Frenchie, there is a lady I see on occasion at work and she ALWAYS says to me first thing in the morning, "Good morning, Sunshine." I am NOT a morning person so I can agree that sometimes a smile has the opposite reaction!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
smile thou your heart is breakin
i had some bad news today about friend that was nice to read. things are not as bad as they seem thanks
My best friend is a person who will give me a book that i have not read yet.
Abraham Lincoln