“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity.
These are but trifles, to be sure;
but scattered along life’s pathway,
the good they do is inconceivable.”
~ Joseph Addison
Sun and smiles are trifles? Without the sun and smiles, there would be no flowers or friendship, two of the most inconceivably good things on the planet. Spend some time today enjoying the sun and sharing your smile. We all need both.
“You can’t get to wonderful without passing through alright.”
~ Bill Withers, Singer/Songwriter
This video and book (see link below) on Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman are not to be missed. What a stunningly beautiful and simple testimony to the power of experience and insight from some of our great elders including Judi Dench, Clint Eastwood, Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, and Robert Redford.
I noticed that there was a seriousness to this video and not a lot of smiles. However, this is one case where the messengers are accomplished and respected celebrities and the messages are so valuable and full of good intention that my heart and spirit are smiling and grateful. Take a look and let me know what you think.
“Use your talents to make someone smile.
That’s what they are there for.”
~ Tara Stiles~
If you haven’t ever done yoga, Tara Stiles is a wonderful person from whom to begin learning about it. If you have done yoga, and don’t know her, check out her blog. Either way, she’ll make you smile while you’re on your way to a healthier body and life.
On one of her recent blog posts on Huffington Post, I found this quote about being yourself that is a great reminder of the value of doing what it takes to keep a smile on your face. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.
People we collectively admire, whether they are saints, teachers, leaders, actors, famous or not, all have one big thing in common. They all have followed their own path, walked in their own shoes, and tuned out the noise and distractions of anything that pulled them in any direction other than their own. We all can do this. It’s not easy but it is possible. There is not a single person on this planet that is exactly the same (until this whole clone thing gets kicked off). We each have something special to contribute to this world. It takes desire, strength, courage and a lot of tough choices to stay on your path, but you are worth it. We all are worth it. When you walk into a room and you are completely, totally you, that is worlds more powerful than a version of you that you have altered to try to be like someone or something else. >>
One of the ways to follow your own path and be completely totally you is to follow your smile. It will always lead you to someplace wonderful.
And please let me know where it leads you. Your smile makes me and the rest of the world smile too.
The number one thing men notice instantly on a woman, according to a new study reported by Cosmopolitan.com, is her smile, followed by hair, cleavage, and skin.
1. Smile. Does it seem sweet and genuine? Does it seem awkward and forced? Does it seem like you ate a sesame-seed and parsley salad for lunch based on what’s lodged between every single one of your teeth? Steal these tips to glam up your grin.
Technorati Tags: smile, woman’s smile, genuine smile, relationships, Cosmopolitan.com
Whoever came up with the “cats-have-9-lives” theory was on to something. My cat Francie (photo to left) is 10 years old and has used up more than a few. She’s been with me since I adopted her at the San Diego Humane Society when she was 6 months old.
Who knew then that she was so sick? Within 3 days she would be in a critical care ward at Helen Woodward Animal Clinic, with a diagnosis of complications from being spayed, a respiratory infection, ear mites, 108 degree fever and a reminder from the Vet that if she lived, she’d most likely be brain damaged because of the high fever.
I was tempted to put her down so that she wouldn’t suffer and because of the potential expense, but after the loss of our 16 year old cat 3 months earlier, my partner wisely suggested we take a different approach. He would pay, I would nurse. I went to visit her every day 3x a day, sitting with her, petting her, and asking her to live. By day 4 I was ready to give up.
In frustration, I looked her straight in the eyes while she laid lethargically in an aluminum pie pan to keep her cool, and said plaintively, “Francie, why aren’t you getting better?!” The first thing I heard back in my mind was, “You’ll just dump me like the others did.” I was startled because I wouldn’t have imagined such a direct answer, let alone an answer like that. I had read about animal communication, so didn’t dismiss it, but wasn’t sure how to respond.
Whether or not it was my imagination talking, I stroked her fur again and said with certainty to her, “I will always make sure you are safe and have a home. I promise.” I left the clinic and went home intrigued by my mind’s response, wondering if animals really do communicate that way, and praying for a miracle.
An hour later I received a call from the clinic telling me that, surprisingly, Francie’s fever had finally broken. The next morning I went to visit her and found her on all fours for the first time in five days and meowing loudly, tail up and twittering. The Vet told me she was ready to go home.
The following month was like a triage room in a hospital with everything we did to help her heal - steam showers to open her lungs, intravenous drip hydration, drugs to stimulate her sense of smell so she would eat, antiobiotic liquid down her throat, eye drops and ear drops, heating pad to keep her warm. I wondered if it was worth it for a cat when so many humans die alone without medical care because they can’t afford it. I didn’t have an answer for that other than choosing to focus on how blessed I and Miss FrancieCat are, and to have given my time to pet therapy in nursing homes.
Francie surprised us all with her resilience. Outside of occasional stress colds and allergies, and a little extra sensitivity to sounds, which makes her a great watch-cat, she is a sweet, little 9 pound smiling purrbox who makes me laugh every day and brings everyone who meets her a smile.
How about you? Do you have a favorite memory with an animal that makes you smile? Tell me their name and share your story in the comment box. I’d love to hear from you.
There are smiles everywhere, if you’re willing to look for them. Check out these animal smiles on Huffington Post.
What about your pets? Do you have a favorite smiling photo of them? How about creating one and adding it to this blog? I’ll add one of my cat Francie in the next post.
“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,
for in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
~ Kahlil Gibran ~
Who in your life could use a little laughter right now? You?
Click here and take a 30-second laugh break.
(Quotation courtesy of HeartMath daily quotations)
Teacher Makes Even Simon Cowell Smile
Teacher Danyl Johnson’s passion for music and teaching made it to X Factor! And what a gift that is for all of us. Watching him reach into people’s hearts singing “With A Little Help From My Friends,” had me out of my chair at home smiling and cheering along with the live audience.
Thank you to all the teachers around the world who make learning a joy and school a happy, healthy, safe place to be.
Bumpersticker Smile
On my walk today I couldn’t help but notice this huge bumpersticker on a parked SUV that said, “I Love My Wife.” I immediately smiled and felt good, imagining a really happily married couple.
Then I wondered what the husband might have done that his wife forgave him for and thrilled him so much he was compelled to announce how grateful he was to the world.
Then I wondered if perhaps his wife put it on the window to remind Hubby to pay more attention to her.
Whatever the reason, it made me smile again, so I got up close to take a photo. Then I noticed the license plate:
“DrLasik.”
Made me want to break out singing, “I can see clearly now…”
Horses have always amazed and delighted me. The few times I’ve galloped on a horse, and the many times I’ve watched them run free in an open field, their power and speed has left me breathless.
As a preteen I longed to ride at Joy Farm during the summers where my two friends Margaret and Tom became blue ribbon riders. When my father said it was too expensive to send me, I settled into living vicariously through the stories of my friends and became a great fan of the weekly TV show Mr. Ed, the talking horse and his friend Wilbur.
In my 20’s, finally self-supporting, I actually rented a horse for a month for $35 - paid for the privilege of grooming and riding on weekends - and being bucked by a white stallion when I made the mistake of thinking that holding the reins tells the horse you’re the one in control.
Since then I’ve learned a lot about horses and myself, so when I saw this video of Shagra, the smiling horse, it tapped into the reminder of the greatest gifts I’ve been given from horses and actually, all the animals in my life: learning how to trust and care for them, and in return, receiving love, acceptance, and joy.
Watch this video and be prepared to smile all the way through as you experience the devotion and playfulness between Shagra and his human companion Phyllis that led to her overcoming alcoholism and unhealthy choices and finding peace and happiness.
What about you? Has there been a special connection with a horse or other animal that has made you smile and deepened your joy for life?
“A horse is an angel without wings.”
