This week’s Wellness Wednesday has a very specific purpose. I want to cause you to smile.
A smile is an outward expression of an inward experience. We are most likely to smile when we experience a connection to something that is tender, kind, gentle, sincere, funny, or touching. These connections give us joy and activate hope. Although they may be fleeting, they are necessary if we are to maintain a healthy balance in life. In 2020 this may be more necessary than ever.
I recently had two very simple experiences that made me smile. The first was a list of answers 4 to 8-year-olds gave to the question, ‘What does love mean?’ Here are a few samples:
“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too.” Rebecca- age 8
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” Billy – age 4
“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.” Karl – age 5
“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny – age 8
“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy – age 6
“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.” Cindy – age 8
“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine-age 5
“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.” Chris – age 7
“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” Lauren – age 4
“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” Karen – age 7
“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”
Mark – age 6
A four-year-old child was the next-door neighbor of an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”
I hope a few of those put a smile on your face. Click HERE for my second experience that will certainly make you smile.
You might want to save this for one of those days when smiles are hard to come by.
Hope you have many more smiles this week. Also hope you can cause them for others. Who is someone you know that needs a smile and what can you do to cause that to happen.
Best wishes from our Top 20 team…Kevin Brennan, Willow Sweeney, and Tom Cody…who have given me a bushel of smiles.
Paul Bernabei, Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training
651-470-3827
