SMILING IN THE DARK

Have you ever thought about it? ....smiling in the dark? Do you do it?

I do.

I caught myself the other night after I had fallen into bed. I was tired. I was distracted from all of the day's happenings. It was pitch black. 

And I was smiling.

The smile came from a joy inside....a good peace.

So now I am writing about it and remembering a song that I sang when I was a little girl:

So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

Maybe there is more to a smile than I ever knew. I found a blog today that talks about the science of smiling. The writer says:

"Once the smiling muscles in our face contract, there is a positive feedback loop that now goes back to the brain and reinforces our feeling of joy."  

(click on the above quote to see the whole article on the blog.)

So, which comes first, the smile or the joy? Sometimes one and sometimes the other.

keywords: smile, smiling, joy, let the sunshine in, peace, smiling in the dark

YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOURSELF

Yes, you are. You may not think that I know this, but I do.

You became the official boss of yourself when you walked out of the door at 17 years old. 

So, what did you think would happen? Did you think that someone would magically come and sweep you off of your feet and take care of you for the rest of your life? Instead and unfortunately, you have been knocked off of your feet a few times by the mistreatment of men.

Truth is, since you are the boss of yourself....you allowed it. Mistreatment should only happen to you ONCE. After that, it is YOUR fault.

Did I teach you that? Did I teach you to stay for another round of mistreatment? 

Perhaps I did and I'm sorry.

You are the boss of yourself.

My intention was to help you become strong and independent. My hopes were that you would smile at trouble and walk through storms without complaining about getting wet.

The trouble with parenting is that, as my dad used to say, "you get too soon old, and too late smart."

Oh, don't worry, I am not taking the blame anymore. I've learned from those who have come before you. 

It didn't happen TO you.... you bossed it into existence.

Pregnant? Sorry chick, I do not remember telling you to stay with a man who would not take responsibility for this. Instead, he continued his dark drug habit and convinced you that it was a good idea to follow his lead...

Meth? That's quite a life sentence for the child within you. Somewhat like the life sentence you were given originally, but had the good fortune to be raised in a home that showed you there were other ways to live.

But since YOU are the boss of yourself, you chose the rough and destructive road.

You didn't have to.....but you did.

Now what? You have a child coming into your arms that you will have to feed, clothe and raise and mostly, love. 

It won't magically raise itself and nobody will swoop down to save you from your destructive behavior. Now you have two lives to be responsible for and so far, it hasn't been working to well for you.

Can you do it? Of course you can....but you have to be willing to put on your big girl panties and turn around and walk the other way.

You need to walk out of your fantasies and into reality.

Being the boss of yourself is not always a picnic....but when you start bossing yourself into success, it is better than you ever dreamed!

Mothers always hope.

keywords: meth, boss of yourself, destructive behavior, mistreatment by men, pregnant and single, responsibility, how is it working for you, success