Patch It With A Smile

On Friday morning  while teaching one of my classes (I teach drama), I noticed one of the little girls all huddled up in a corner looking very sad. I had just reprimanded one of the boys for punching her, but he was relentless, and punched her again behind my back. Concerned, because she is one of my  most enthusiastic little performers, I asked her what was wrong. With sad puppy eyes she looked up at me and said that her heart was sore. I gently took her hand into mine, pulled her up and told her her heart was sore because she wasn't smiling. I told her to give me her biggest smile and sure enough, after five minutes all was forgotten and she was her bubbly self again.

Today I'd been feeling down and when asked by a friend of mine what was wrong, the only way I could describe how I felt was by telling her that my heart was sore. That's when I realised what I had dismissed as childish brooding had in fact been an eloquent expression of what she was truly feeling. She was suffering from a heart broken by a boy. It's amazing how at such a young age boys have the power to break us, but unlike adults children are more resilient to the pains of life and only look for reassurance that all will soon be okay. Unfortunately it is not so easy for us adults. Life tends to leave us non-trusting, forever calculating, eyes working furiously so as not to miss the slightest gesture that may betray a person's true intention.  Insecurity is hard work and it is tiring because there is no rest for an insecure heart. It eventually gets sore. It gets even more painful when it feels abandoned and unappreciated and alone. I was tired of feeling like this, and as I was sitting alone in silence, waiting for a solution, an answer to my troubles, a little voice inside of me told me to smile...

... so I smiled,

and although it didn't take the pain away completely it did make it bearable. It gave me the strength to realise that I am responsible for my emotions and how I chose to react to certain situations is entirely up to me.  If you're feeling abandoned go out and look for someone who'll appreciate you. Call a friend or a family member, there is so much love out there in the world yet we chose to sit alone in the dark, waiting for it to walk through the door.  When alone get dressed, go out and meet new people, get to know their interests and together create beauty. Don't ever allow another person to take you away from yourself. Be in control. 

My heart is still not fully healed but it is on the mend because, just like the little girl, I chose to change my attitude towards life. I chose to smile, and it patched up my heart. So as you begin a new week remember to smile, it may not solve world hunger or reverse the effects of global warming, but it will set you on a new course, one of optimism and an exhilaration of the soul.