Out Of Touch?

Some people seem to feel that it is impossible to have a pleasant attitude or a positive attitude all the time.  To be positive all the time must mean that you are out of touch with reality.  How can you have a positive attitude when there are so many things wrong in the world?

Someone used a wonderful illustration once to demonstrate how we are totally in control of our attitudes. Let's say that you are having a rather lively and loud disagreement with a family member at home.  And then the phone rings.  All of a sudden, you can calm yourself and regain your composure long enough to answer the phone and refocus your attention on the caller. Your voice is calmer, your attention is no longer on the disagreement, your attitude changes and is likely, more pleasant than before the phone call. How did that happen?  It was a matter of self-control. So it seems that Chuck Swindoll was right in his now popular quote about Attitude (http://thinkexist.com/quotes/charles_r._swindoll/) --it has more to do with deciding to have a good attitude.

So tomorrow morning before your feet hit the floor, decide that you are in control of your attitude for the day.  You are not out of touch just because you choose to smile. And having a positive attitude may help you get through some testing situation that may come up during the day. Having a positive attitude may help you think through a problem and come up with a workable solution. At the least, if you're smiling, no one will ever know what you're up to!

Just Keep Smiling!
R. Fitch

Exercise That Smile!

There's an old adage that says it takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown. Based on what I've read, however, it actually takes more muscles to smile than it does to frown.  Could it be that people who smile are exercising those muscles so it helps them to look younger? What about looking younger, longer!  And when smiling leads to laughter, there seem to be additional benefits as well.

I understand that laughing is thought to be helpful in increased life expectancy. A good hearty laugh is said to massage the internal organs, especially the heart muscle. Research suggests that laughter reduces stress, helps boost immune system function, helps increase oxygen levels in the body, and offers a number of other physiological healing therapies. So it seems to be true that laughter really is good medicine! (Proverbs 17:22, the Bible)

So by smiling and laughing, perhaps we are getting in a little "exercise" if you will. Could smiling and laughing be a bit of passive exercise? Find something to smile about, something to laugh about everyday and you might just increase the length of your life!

Blessings Indeed!
R. Fitch

Find Something Everyday!

I read something a long, long time ago (20+ years!) that said for every bad thing we hear about that happens in the world, there are at least two or three good things that happen. But we have a tendency to focus on the negatives in life and in the world. Perhaps it's the negative things that overwhelm us and often seem larger than life.

It may take some intentionality, but I believe that if we try, even ever so slightly, we can find something to smile about everyday. And it is very often the case, that even if at the end of the day, as we review what happened during the course of the day just past, we may even find something to smile about that was not so pleasant when it happened. Haven't you ever had the experience of rethinking something that happened and realized after the fact, that it really was funny after all?  I know I have. And I often say to those who know me, if I see or hear something funny, I am going to laugh! (I often make this statement about funny things that happen in church--YES, funny things do happen in church and YES, I will laugh!)

Sometimes it's a matter of not taking everything so seriously. Especially ourselves. So this is encouragement to intentionally, deliberately, find something everyday to smile about!

Peace!
R. Fitch

Why Isn't The Whole World Smiling?

I remember an old song that most people today would probably say is corny.  But the lyrics of the song began with, "When you're smiling, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you . . ."  I don't know if that song is really true--maybe it used to be, but it doesn't seem to be any more.

As I was going about my errands preparing for Thanksgiving Day and my project for cooking for my family, of course it meant going here and there in stores to get the necessary items for the menu.  I began to pay attention to people and the looks on their faces and noticed that very few people were smiling.  Even when I smiled hoping to get a smile back, I saw blank stares at best, and most often, people avoided looking at all.  Let's face it, there are a lot of things wrong in the world.  But there are also some good things going on.  I think, just having the mind to go to the store and the money to pay for the meal I am planning is something to be able to smile about.

I decided I wanted to start a blog dedicated to finding things to smile about.  And if I can convince a few folks to join me in a campaign to find something to smile about, at least it will make a difference to the few of us who prefer to smile and celebrate what is good about life and about the world.

Join me, won't you!

R. Fitch