… show Life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.
My motto. You’ll see it up there under my bio.
I try to keep it close always. So close as to have it stare back at me from grubby, tattered pieces of paper above my desk at home and at my office.
So many times I’ve briefly glanced at those pieces of paper and have been reminded to smile. If nothing else, I can pass on the smile to someone else. It may be the only bit of sunshine and warmth they receive that day. It could make a world of difference to someone. You just never know.
Yet even though those pieces of paper stare back at me nearly every day with a kind of well-meaning but long-suffering grimace, I sometimes have difficulty really recalling the words written on them. These are the times when I need most to remember them.
On occasion, when life hits me for six, I become so distraught that all I think of is me, me, me. At these times my selfishness crafts a cold, empty place that is, somehow, also strangely appealing and welcoming. It tempts me to enter and once I do, I quickly fall into a near bottomless pit of self-pity.
It is a pit where I wallow in the murky depths of isolation and despair. A pit so dark it is very difficult to see a ladder that I might climb out. A pit that seems to swallow me whole until I'm not even sure that I really want to climb out.
When I'm in that place, I would want for those words to come easily to my lips and rest gently on my heart and soul.
Right now I am willing myself to remember them.
I need to grab hold of them and hang on for dear life.
They are my cue to pull myself out of the watery depths of isolation and despair and live life again.
They are my aide memoire to quit being so self-absorbed.
They are my salvation from self-pity.
They are my wake-up call that there is always someone suffering much more than I am.
They are my release to be thankful for the many blessings in my life.
They are my kick in the pants to get out in the world and try to make a difference.
Life has come to call ... and I need to show Life that I do have a thousand reasons to smile.
© Words by K A Little
All Rights Reserved
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
M. C. S.
WhatsMe
T. Dailey
J D Smith
eyespye
Rachel Coyne
Salon.com
Comments
Cindy: We're human and sometimes, try as we might, we just need some help ... someone to lift us up. I'm glad that your husband does that for you. I'm going to do my very best to smile today ... perhaps if I can start by sending you one right now .... : )
"I AM a radiant mirror of love"
Every time I say it, I smile.
rated with knowing that You are a radiant mirror of love as well.
I'd love it if you like to answer the OC and write the story behind your quote.
And I'd love to hear the story behind your mantras too!
Yes, it is VERY early morning here.
Hope these days are less and less for you Kate...
Words to live by Katie. I like that you post at the beginning of the week, it's uplifting.
Thank you GA ... you help to lift me up and I appreciate it immensely.
Today you shared with us and we all here who read this send you back the best dew drops of morning to drip onto your thirsty heart. Thank you my friend for being you today and always. S
What does this mean: when life hits me for six
Lezlie
beware the pit of despair
your words will become the ladder
Rated
Both yours and Rita's words sound very wise to me. In fact, I KNOW they are wise words indeed.
Having had a bit to deal with in the past, I know that I need to check in with myself because I do have a tendency to stuff my feelings down. I know to seek counselling if needed. For now, I know I'm very upset about some things and the road is very bumpy at the moment.
I know I am fairly strong and resilient... or perhaps I've just learnt to be strong ... but I also know that I am not infallible. I know I can be very weak too and that I might try to hide my feelings from those around me. I know too what severe depression can do to people. I've seen it first hand. I know to seek help if or when I need.
I think what I do here is use some words to do exactly what you suggest Anna ... I use them to pull me back from the edge, to breathe a little and lift myself. And by doing that I know I can come back later to deal with what I need to deal with and feeling stronger to deal with it. Does this all make sense? Or am I in need of much more help than I think at the moment???? PM me if you think so! Please!
But Anna, please let me say now .... I think you are absolutely the most wonderful person caring for me the way you are right now. I am very humbled.
There's a picture of a gal with a cup of coffee and leg crossed & foot bouncing. It says:
"One day, long, long ago, there was this man who surprisingly was NOT full of crap......
But this was a long time ago...and it was just ONE day.
The end.
Well, if I got a smile out of you I did my job here.
You must be wise, my friend!
Your words are hugging me right now and making me feel very loved and appreciated. Thank you ... really ... thank you.
You also speak wonderful words of wisdom ... growth from the freedom of knowing that you have free will but that choices are provided ...
Those words ... your words ... speak to me right now. Thank you
I can't tell you, and all of my friends here, how very much I appreciate you all right now.
Re your question ... "being hit for six" ... springs from cricket terminology I believe ... when someone hits a six in a game of cricket they hit the ball out of the grounds (or the park might be more apt for my American friends) and they score six runs ... the analogy is then that if life hits you for six ... it hits you out of the park and you are reeling from whatever has hit you there. Hopefully that makes sense. It sounds to me it's likely an analogy used more by those of us who come from Down Under!
I think my words may be the frame of the ladder but the loving care and support from my OS friends are the rungs on the ladder!
And I continue to smile because you care!
You seem a lovely spirit and just rating and adding some shabby 2 cents to the mix.
"God makes good of all things."
r --
Persistent Muse: Your story warms my heart and I know of those ebb and flows that you speak of ... of lifting one another up instictively. That is a beautiful thing that we as caring beings can do for each other. Thank you for doing that for me today.
Honestly, your lovely words of support, coupled with the fact that you came back (and here you do again today), show me much of your love and support. They show me you are a beautiful soul.
Yep, the souls, spirits, hearts and minds that reach out from so many here on OS are a wonderful blessing.
R
SexyLady: So true. A smile is free and so nice a gift to give to another.
Caroline: Thank you!
GWW: I think sometimes I'm too trusting of myself ... I can be very naive which often leads to my downfall. And then, when I fall, it can be very hard to get back up again.
peace...
hugsme: Wishes of bright sunshine, laughing a little and hugs are all welcome here any day! Thank you so much ... I appreciate them and I appreciate you.