Today, as on most days, my answer to the standard greeting, “Hi, how are you?” was my truth: “I’m great. How are you?” Spoken with positive enthusiasm and a warm smile, I meant it. I still mean it.
It is not just some auto response. I say that I’m great because, no matter what is happening around me, life is inherently great. Nonetheless, people respond with statements like, “No. Really. How are you?” or “How can you even say that?”
Along those same lines, I get asked the most ridiculous question of all: “What are you smiling about?” Well guess what. I’m smiling because l feel great. That’s right. I’ll say it again—I feel great.
Smiling When Everything Ain’t So Great
How does it make you feel when everything seems to be falling apart yet there’s that one person who is still skipping along with a smile? Does it piss you off? Does it make you wonder if that person is on drugs?
Do you think that person is just not paying attention to the atrocities that you see? Well, I’m usually that smiling person and I’ll tell you a little bit about what’s going on in my head.
For starters, I’m not blind or immune to the realities that leave people feeling down and out. I’m not unaware of the unfairness at my place of employment, the extreme humidity outside today, or even this nagging pain in my back.
I know that my country’s financial system is in crisis, sea life is being killed by a reckless oil spill, and children are starving to death on a planet with more than enough for everyone. Yes…I see it all and I don’t like it.
The Choice to Feel Great
There are negative things going on in my life and in our world as a whole, but each day I make a choice. I choose to smile—a simple way of sharing joy with others instead of adding to their gloom. I choose to have a positive outlook.
I choose to appreciate every negative as an opportunity to learn, evolve, and add more good to the world. I choose to love my role as person who can help make life on Earth a better place for us all.
With a positive attitude and the strength of a woman who greets trials head on, I choose to live a joyful life. I choose to feel great. And when I feel great—I smile. And when I smile—it is often contagious.
Everyone can find reasons to cry, pout, fight and complain. In fact, a victim mentality is completely justified for anyone who wants to possess it. Nobody will fault you for it. But that doesn’t make it worthwhile.
There is so much more to life than the gloom and doom. There are far more reasons to smile than there are to frown, but we all see what our hearts and eyes are open to. What are you on the lookout for? Reasons to smile? Causes for feeling great? Or are you more open to sad songs, bad news, and angry people?
If life’s struggles have caused you to lose sight of what there is to smile about, I’ll share a short version of my list with you in hopes that you’ll wake up to an alternative perspective on your own life.
What I’m Smiling About
- I’m breathing—my lungs effortlessly supply my cells with oxygen.
- I have a smart, beautiful, successful daughter who I’ve managed to raise on my own since her father’s death.
- I have 2 best friends who love and support me in times of great sorrow and great success.
- I conveniently drive on highways and paved streets, remembering to give thanks for the people who worked so hard to construct them.
- Unlike those who are deaf, I can hear my favorite song, the voice of my beloved, and the laughs of small children.
- I have two arms. I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who can’t hug, hold hands, or even pick up a fork to feed themselves. How blessed I am to be able to do these things with very little thought and effort.
- Independence. With all of my senses, organs, and body parts intact, I’m able to live totally independently. I can walk, run, talk, see, hear, cook, write, read, breathe, lift, jump, drive, dance, and so much more—totally unassisted.
- I have freedom. I could be one of the many innocent people locked behind bars, but instead I am free to walk in the park, smell the roses, spend time with loved ones, and feel the sunshine on my skin.
- Money. I am a long way from being rich but I’m financially able to feed and clothe my family. That alone is something smile about; but it gets better. I have enough to share with those less fortunate and it feels great to do so. There is no better gift that the gift of giving.
- Flowers. I believe that one of the most beautiful things in nature is a newly bloomed flower. My eyes light up and a smile crosses my face each time I’m lucky enough to see colorful flowers in full bloom.
- My health is great. Instead of struggling with disease or disorder, I am in near perfect health. I get an ache or pain now and then, but I’m excellent at healing myself naturally. How awesome!
Smiling as a Display of Love and Appreciation
Like everyone else, I have challenges. I see things in my life and in this world that I would love to change, but none of it takes away from the fact that there is much to smile about. A smile is the ultimate display of love and appreciation. It is a way of showing everyone that we are not all a bunch of miserable people barely making it along a dead-end road called Life.
Life is beautiful! Every challenge creates an opportunity. As I give thanks for those opportunities to show myself, to better myself, to create myself anew—it is impossible to hate the challenges.
From my brain to my feet, from where I stand to the very end of the Universe, there are endless reasons to smile. I am overjoyed right now with the feeling of awareness and appreciation for all that I am. This, and so much more, is why I smile.
Why are you smiling (or not smiling)?
Related Self Improvement Blog Posts
Life’s Struggles: Who Would You Be Without Them
Nea is a Transformational Life Coach whose mission is to help you love your life.
If you desire the “good life” and you want to know how Nea can help you attain it, contact her now.
Hi, I'm Nea. As a 
{ 1 trackback }
{ 8 comments }
Hi Nea,
Thank you for such thought provoking and practical ways of looking at/through life.
I have been following your blog, reading your writings and getting inspired truly and every time i finish reading the current one, I await your next writing(s).
I (we) have many reasons to smile and be great in a beautiful journey called LIFE.
Thanks,
Chandra
It warms my heart to learn that you’ve been enjoying this blog. And I thank you so much for your comment. Wishing you even more reasons to smile!
Nea: What a great post? It really is all about smiling. I think what you said was so important … you choose to smile and see things from the perspective that always points you in the direction of your smile. We will experience ups and downs and have challenges that come our way, however what matters most is how we choose to see things. I really appreciate that list you shared. What a great reminder of those things that are really the most important. Thanks for a great post and list.
Hi I find your list absolutely beautiful. You’re a joy to know and I’m sure you know the world is smiling back at you. We can’t smile and appreciate and be unhappy at the same time;)
Hello Tess. Thanks for commenting. I’m sure your bold way of living brings more smiles that anyone can count. Love to you.
Hi Nea. I love your warm bold smile! If everyone was grateful like you, what a wonderful world we could be living in. I like it that you do acknowledge that their are some appalling conditions in our world, but you CHOOSE your attitude and response. I am smiling with you.
Sometimes I feel like just starting to smile… about nothing can really start to change my mood for the best!
great post, thanks for sharing
Comments on this entry are closed.