The most wonderful time of the year. It really should be, but it seems to spiral out of control. Every December 1st I have visions of twinkling lights, a beautiful tree decorated in my window, fireplace aglow and Christmas music playing while I sip hot cocoa just admiring the peaceful view.
But then something happens. The calendar fills up…with good things of course! Parties, recitals, out of town guests, baking, cooking, shopping, planning, and wrapping. All the while having to keep up on our daily responsibilities of home and work and family. No wonder it gets crazy right out of the December 1st gate!
I caught myself feeling pretty depressed from it all, and I had to stop. Stop the thoughts and plans for a moment. What in the world do I have to be depressed about? Right at this moment Christmas music is playing, the snow is falling and I am content. I have more than I need, and that is enough. There are others in my own little community that have hardships greater than mine, so I will not stress about my own small world. I will focus on the good that each day brings. I will seek ways to make someone else smile. Supposedly you use more muscles to frown than smile. This is the one time I will support the thought of using less muscle to do something!
What can you do to be someone's smile today? It really doesn't take much from what I've learned. I was at Costco yesterday and just about fit to be tied. So many people! It was Thursday for crying out loud, but felt like a Saturday there! I kept finding myself completely annoyed and had to remind myself over and over again to smile. No one around me deserved to see a grumpy look on my face! There were plenty of those to go around as it was. Guess what happens when you smile at someone else? THEY SMILE BACK! That's all. Maybe for a moment that person you show kindness to needed it to get through the rest of their day. I just tell myself, "It's not about you".
So, my hope for you today is be someone's reason to smile :)
