There are certain times when I can’t help but to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and alone. Sometimes, even defeated.
Personal loss has hit me hard this past year. First, I had to put my best little friend Izzy to sleep. I got Izzy after surviving attempted murder and he really became a great little pal and steady companion. Then I lost my grandmother in Jan. Then I lost my dear friend Marcella in March. She was a mentor and great friend to me. And then just last month, I lost my mother; the woman that gave me life!
My cape is terribly wrinkled and needs to be washed and ironed. 🙂
I’m not sure that I’ve taken the necessary time to grieve – it feels like driving on empty – but I did honor and respect and memorialize all of those that have passed. But still, I feel loneliness without these individuals in my life.
I also have strained family relationships, but I love them and pray for them, and I hope they love and pray for me as well. I had an agreement with my mom that I would not go back for her funeral services and plan a celebration of life here for her. She was okay with that and understood that I would honor her in my own special way. Nevertheless, I took a lot of heat on that and praying all find peace in time; I know my Mom has peace with it in heaven.
Here’s the thing, I’ve been seeking peace and tranquility for eons but it seems to almost always elude me. I remember a reporter asking Mother Teresa once how she was going to attain world peace and she answered, “Peace begins with a smile.”
I’ll go along with that. I’m also reminded of that standard by Charlie Chaplin, Smile. It’s such a classic song and I love the lyrics, Smile, though your heart is aching / Smile even though it’s breaking. / When there are clouds in the sky / you’ll get by. There’s a 2nd verse and then the song ends with the uplifting: You’ll find that life is still worthwhile / if you just smile.
Of course the song is talking about an individual’s choice to be either sad or happy and even if you have to fake it, it’s better than the alternative.
The other reason I’m going to smile is that all of these individual that have departed have either tested me or set a shining example on how to conduct one’s life. If they tested me, it was because they loved me and wanted to make me stronger. If they set a shining example, they would want me to be smiling now anyway.
Okay, I feel better now than when I started this blog. This song lets me know that inner peace also, begins with a smile.
Life is what you make of it. So never quit, never give up, make the most of it, and remember, it costs nothing to give away but it can enrich another’s life for a moment or a week if you lend them just a little smile.
With Faith, there is Hope….
P.W.
Take the time to watch & listen to this video and don’t forget to SMILE! 🙂
