On Smiles #2
Some people wake up and smile. I am not one of them.
Still, I envy them. So, I have learned to trick myself and prompt myself to get there faster.
My morning mantra is to get up and get out. Breathing the morning air, whether frigid or humid, stirs me to wakefulness. And at some point in that first hour of the day, I engage in a spiritual focus. This could mean a morning walk, prayer, meditation, contemplating spiritual verse, listening to a favorite teacher, just listening, or another tool in my “theological rehab” toolbox.
No matter which tool it is, they all ultimately lead to the joy of a contented smile.
I know it’s coming, but it sneaks up on me every time. And I welcome this contented smile. It is the outer expression of an inner state that I would like to bask in for a long time.
When peace deep within spills over to a grin, you’ve found it. Centered, receptive, thankful. Focused, calm, oriented. Before the anxiety and hurriedness of the day, I need to start here. So do you. Whether you are a morning person or not, getting ahead of second and third things by intentionally engaging the first things is life-giving.
May you soon put yourself in a position to experience the joy of a contented smile.
Worth Repeating
Find a place inside where there’s joy and the joy will burn out the pain.
-Joseph Campbell
