The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Smile

Happy May Day!

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Happy May Day! I remember as a child creating little paper baskets that I could put flowers in. I filled them with roses from our garden and hung them on my neighbors’ doorknobs. I always dreamed of dancing around a maypole with flowers in my hair grasping a ribbon attached to the top of the pole. And I heard that May Day was celebrated with cake, so I was always looking for one that never seemed to appea r. I think I’ll bake my own cake today!

May Day is a Northern Hemisphere celebration supposedly to welcome summer, though summer doesn’t officially start till June 21. I plan to celebrate anyway. I choose to go for a walk and pay attention to all the lovely flowers blooming now. If you have flowers you can pick from your garden, I encourage you to share some to celebrate with your loved ones. We don’t really need to have a certain day set aside to celebrate. I see the value of celebrating every day that I am alive, that I can do something significant to help others, and that I can breathe and enjoy this wonderful world! I feel all my loved ones who have transitioned smiling and me today and sending lots of love!

I am happy to wish you Happy May Day and hope that you will pass this greeting along with a great, big smile!

Smile

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Comedian Bill Mahar ends his act on stage after each performance by singing silent film star Charlie Chaplin’s song Smile. The night I saw him, Woody Harrelson came on stage with him to play the piano and sing with him, and Paul Simon came on to sing with him too. What a treat! But when he announced that they would sing that song, I thought it was an odd choice because as I had heard the song throughout my life, I always thought it was kind of sad, and this was a comedy show.

When I woke up this morning with the music to the song running through my head, I decided I would look up the lyrics. I realized that the music came to me because that was just what I needed to hear today. Here they are for you:

Smile

Music by Charles Chaplin, Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through
for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just
Smile

https://www.charliechaplin.com/en/articles/42-Smile-Lyrics

Scientific research shows that smiling actually affects your brain chemistry. The act of smiling works to lift your mood activating feelings of joy and happiness. When you smile big activating all the muscles in your face, you will notice the difference. And the more you smile, the more you will want to smile. “Smiling relaxes the facial muscles and calms the nervous system. Laughing sends more oxygen to the brain. That triggers the release of brain chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals help us feel positive. Laughing can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and boost mood.” Robert Provine

Try this: take a deep breath in and smile big, then slowly breathe out, relaxing and maintaining your smile. Don’t you just feel better? And try this: look at someone who is talking to you right in the eyes and smile big. They may ask you what you are doing, but more likely, they will start smiling along with you. Seeing smiles inspires smiling, so not only will your spirits be lifted, but so will those of who you are around.

So today, every time you pass a mirror or your reflection in a window, have that be a reminder to smile. The more you smile, the more you will want to smile, and notice how good it feels!