Where’s Your Happy Face?

When my children sat in a puddle of tears or pouted over the unfairness of cleaning a mess, I gave them my go-to response:

“Where’s your happy face?”

I didn’t dismiss their frustration or sadness because I wasn’t compassionate, although they might have disagreed. But because so much of how we face the world relies on our gratitude and attitude.

I mostly start my day with a smile, but not always.

As the old cliche reminds us, we can live with the glass half empty or half full. We get to choose. When my world feels like chaos and dark clouds seem to follow me, a smile for someone or myself breaks the cycle and shifts my attitude.

Rather than melting into a mound of self-pity, I turn to my favorite question:

“What if?”

What if I thought about all the people, places, and memories in my life that make me smile?

We can’t change the world in which we live. The unexpected has a way of upsetting plans and dreams and holding us hostage. That’s exactly what Chuck Harmon did. He didn’t linger on the tragedies in his life.

Instead, he changed his life because attitude is the mind’s paintbrush, and he chose to color it with joy. Take 10 minutes to listen to his story.

I’m glad I did this morning, so now, I pass my smile on to you.

Music always makes me smile

Words to Live By

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you
as by the attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what happens to you
as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”
—Khalil Gibran

I always welcome your thoughts, so please leave a comment

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And always—

Be kind. Be brave. Be you.

Feature Photo: Smile © Kathryn LeRoy