This Emory Austin quote reminds me of a day a few months ago when I found myself walking around my kitchen wearing what surely must have looked like the Grinch’s expression.
I had hurt my back, and possibly even cracked a rib, by falling against a concrete picnic table.
I’m graceful, if nothing else.
The pain was relentless and I was getting, probably, three total hours of sleep each night. When you’re running on little sleep and big pain, even coffee doesn’t help your countenance.
I decided to go all “Self Help Daily-esque” on myself. I smiled at my cat (and I’m pretty sure she raised her eyebrow at me) and declared her to be the most beautiful cat in the world – a fact she already knew.
I looked out the window and smiled at the birds, squirrels, and trees. Not one smiled back, but that was okay. When I walked back through the kitchen and poured myself another cup of coffee (all theories have to be tested, you know), I realized that I was no longer wearing a Grinch expression because I no longer felt like him.
Sure, the pain was still there and the yawns were piling up on one another – but I was smiling. My mood was lifted simply because I decided that’s simply how it must be.
Sing anyway… or, at the very least, smile!
~ Joi (“Joy”)
I read your story and really enjoyed it. Excellent .
The quote is marvelous.
I also like this quote: “There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.” Lady Blessington
Yanglish, that’s beautiful – I love it! I actually just wrote it down on an index card and tacked it to my bulletin board. Thanks so much for sharing and commenting. – Joi