Learning to Smile

The family had an opportunity to spend a week this summer in Sikkim. Experiencing a new place and a new people, we came back richer from that experience. As we traveled through the interiors of that beautiful land, what struck me was the joy that permeated all things, man or nature. Don't get me wrong, it is not an easy life. Life in the mountains, without the robotic luxuries of our sprawling cities, is hard. But finding a purpose, finding the joy seemed to come easy. Finding joy prodded by the little things.....the flutter of the breeze, the swirl of the mist, the gush of meandering rivers, the shades of changing green, the smile of the Lepcha people.  You could hear Thich Nhat Hanh whisper "Smile, breathe and go slowly". 

Like any other vacation, we came back with memories and photographs of a beautiful place this time too. But this time, I came back with one more thing. I came back with a resolve. Inspired by the Lepcha.....A resolve to smile. A resolve to smile more often. A resolve to smile, breathe and go slowly. I know the big city will distract me enough to stray off the path sometimes. But, I 'll take all the help I can...from my daughters, my friends, my family....let's spread the joy through a smile. A simple smile to ease the stress in your life or in someone else's. A simple smile for limitless joy. A simple smile for a peaceful world. There is no other way to do it....count the laugh-lines on each other's face and light up your life with a simple smile.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy". Experience this Thich Nhat Hanh whisper everyday. I experience it in my daughter's smile. Your troubles melt away. Your world feels lighter. You are ready to face a new day. A simple smile is all it takes to brighten up the day. Relearn....Smile now.

Tell us a good story, please....

It has been a while since I wrote. This has been a cloudy uncertain time in some ways for me. I have been faced with a situation that demands a definite choice to be made. The road has hit a fork, and you have to take one. It is not the easiest time in one's life when you have to choose. In more ways than one, you are lucky to have the choices to make. However, the choice being right or wrong, it is something you know only when it plays out. So, what will you choose and how will you choose? There is a very interesting video available on the internet of an address by Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon.com. He tells the young Princeton graduates starting out in their careers that life is not about the talent one has. He says life is about the choices you make. And he is right on the money when he says that. What you become is what you choose to become. You are the author of your own life story and you have the opportunity to tell a good story. So, tell us a good story, please....

This is a simple theory that I think helps you evaluate the choices you make. Think of your life as a story and then decide how you would like that story to read. Is it a story of adventure or one of cowardice? Is it a story of faith or is it one of betrayal? Is it a story of love or is it one of hatred? First of all, be honest to yourself and choose your story, not someone else's. It is your life, not someone else's. It is your dream, not someone else's. Follow your dream, don't fear the uncertainty, ask more of yourself and your life. It is your story and you better make it a good story. Paulo Coelho says this beautifully in his book "The Pilgrimage". He says " Because we don't want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day to day existence, and we hear the sound of the lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important, what's important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight."

Tell us a good story, please.... There are examples that one can find without looking too far. I recently read a book called "Fresh Brew" which has stories of many classmates and friends who chose to do something different and follow their big dream. I know of many friends who still don't have a book written on them as yet, but certainly have shown the courage to lead the full life. If they can make a good story, so can you.....script it now. Follow your big dream. Lead your full life. Fight the good fight. And, tell us a good story, please.....