Tag: Smile

Within This Connection.

A young man approached me by the sidewalk today. “You have a lovely smile,” he said. “And, as you know, a smile is God’s gift.”

I’ve always prided myself on an aspect of connection; one that extends beyond the words so graciously tendered and into a space of shared understanding.

Though often we struggle with our limitations, our boundaries. We’re terrified to lose that sense of ‘me’ within the ‘us’.

Whether through the burden of past hurt, or the sting of an irreconcilable grievance — still we stand eager to know this heart which extends itself to us.

Though, often through the simplicity of smile – where words fail to express ‘God’s gift’.

We are together, yet desperately lonely; our souls fixed to these invisible threads.

“Love is our true destiny,” shares Thomas Merton. “We do not find the meaning of life ourselves alone – we find it with another.”

And, beginning within the soft glow of smile.

In peace…

Namaste ❤️

The Gift of This Smile.

Thich Nhat Hanh once described community as a river of kindness and compassion; one which “radiates a collective energy that can support us and make us strong.”

Each day as I walk, my eyes are drawn to the faces of passersby. I think of their pain within this collective human experience. I wonder of their struggle to traverse the complexities of life in an often unforgiving world. I view the fullness of their life’s story in the depth of wrinkled creases.

And then, I see their smile–radiating an indefatigable energy; one which reinforces the promise of this one human family.

We find connection through such a simple action and refuge, within the warmth of their loving-kindness.

Yes, my darlings — a simple smile can pierce through the layers of any roughened exterior, delivering hope where previously there was none.

As we smile to another, we might just find that the eyes of humanity might come alive in return.

We are all members of this one human family, my loves. And we are here simply to ‘walk each other home.’

Namaste, in peace ~ ❤️

The Unexpected Joy Within One Loving Smile.

I’m reminded of a story this morning, my loves – once shared by the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.

He spoke of meeting a child one day, with a smile so lovely it could warm even the most ‘unflinching’ of hearts.

“Tim, you have such a beautiful smile,” he said.

“Thank you,” beamed the little one in return.

To which, brother Thay immediately responded, “You don’t have to thank me, I have to thank *you*. Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”

And though a seemingly minor correction, isn’t it true – that a smile can be the source of our joy?

Yours is certainly the source of mine.

“Life is filled with suffering,” he shares. “but it is also filled with many wonders, like the blue sky, the sunshine, the eyes of a baby. To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with the wonders of life. They are within us and all around us, everywhere, any time….If we are happy, if we are peaceful, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.”

Indeed, when we are in touch with the wonders of this world – everything and everyone, in turn, becomes our peace.

So, let your smile become the source of joy for others; and, in doing so, shine a little hope in their world.

Remember, sometimes the gift of unexpected joy – can be found delicately hidden in the curled up edges of one loving smile.

<3

A Smile As Our Truest Source of Joy.

Oh my goodness, what a lovely and poignant message for this day. That a smile might be ‘heard’ in any language, irrespective of the obstacles we choose to create.

Smile, and the world will shine with a new joy. Laugh, and all hearts shall be lifted.

“Let us always meet each other with smile,” Mother Teresa once said, “for the smile is the beginning of love.”

Indeed, a smile is the most direction connection to heart – and the heart, is where all love begins.

And so, on this day, my dearest darlings – I wish you all the smiles this world has to share.

Namaste, and peace-filled blessings ~ and remember, a smile is often our truest source of joy.

<3

A Moment Not To Be Missed.

I watched a little boy pulling a wagon today.

Round and round our country block, until his face flushed red from the strain. In the back, his passengers – two little ones – shrieking with delight.

“Aren’t your arms growing tired,” I called from the porch.

To which he replied.

“You can never get tired making other people smile.”

And, off he went…as simple as that. Touché, and blessings – my little four-foot Buddhist friend.

From the mouths of babes, they say, comes an indispensable wisdom. Immeasurable in its capacity to transform our often all-too-rigid thinking.

With one quick and unassuming breath, they leap so effortlessly past ego. Like stones skipping across a pond, touching only just long enough to force a ‘ripple.’ Leaving a little extra something for us grown ups to consider.

Imagine, just how easily ‘something like this’ might have been missed? A missed appointment, a broken dish — and, we’ve all but let it slip.

Every day, we makes plans and assumptions for our tomorrow. But the truth is, we just never really know. Our lives can change so unexpectedly — all the more reason to cherish what we have.

My darlings, it’s the tiniest of these micro-moments which reveal the magnificence in this miracle of life.

The trick is being awake enough to fully cherish it.

The Best Advice I Have Ever Received.

I remember my mother once being asked, what was the source of her smile.

Without missing a beat, and with a sweet softness to her eyes she replied,

“Find what you love and build your world around it.”

I don’t know why I am reminded of her words today. Perhaps, inspired by my early morning walk in which the last of the Autumn leaves clung desperately to their new Winter ‘post.’

“Find what you love and build your world around it.”

And though, it’s taken me nearly 40 years to understand – I can finally say, that the greatest of blessings are never further than one soul-filling breath away.

For, embedded within each crumpled leaf…and, marking even the most brutal of winter winds.

My darlings, there is love – praying that we may one day have the courage to follow it.