Why practice

    Why would anyone start a personal practice?  There is no finish line, no ticker tape or fan fare.  A personal practice is a personal commitment.  It isn't external.  No shiny cars at the end of this journey- or who knows maybe the journey will surprise us all.

  Any changes I make affect those around me.  My practice is no longer internal but connected to all I know.  If I smile instead of cry.  If I run instead of sit on the couch.  If I write instead of watch mindless TV.  These changed affect us all.  Subtle changes are still changes.

    So why would anyone want to start a personal practice?  To see what happens when you change your life.  The unknown of shifting energies and habits.  Hopefully for the better, for the spectacular for the benefit of all connected.  But you can't really know, you just do and you have faith.

    Today, I ran early with Sally, our flop eared smiling dog and walked with later a good friend.  I got up early and wrote and I'm writing tonight.  I smiled when I ran. I smiled when I drove.  I forgot to smile when I worked at my desk.

    Today is a good day.  A good practice.
        Wishing you a good night,  
                 Denise

The practice of smiling

     Smiling, everyone does it.  It is natural and spontaneous...right?  Yes, but is there more?  Smiling can also be a practice.  Smiling stimulates your radiance.  Smiling empowers your faith, all is OK in the world.  Smiling connects you to others.  Smiling is done in the present moment.  Smiling is a gift, a gift we receive and can give.  Smiling relaxes our nervous system. Our smile give us inner compassion.  Smiling makes us healthier.  Does smiling make us happier?

   What would happen if I smiled as a practice?  Everyday, no matter the weather, the time or events practice smiling.    I run, I practice running to get stronger, improve my endurance and speed.  If I want to write, I need to practice to improve my connection, flow and message.  I don't need to practice to run or write but they are greatly enhanced by practice.  If I practice smiling will my smiling be enhanced?

As in running and writing quality practice leads to better running and writing.  Quality smiling should also lead to better smiling.  Better smiling?

  Maybe we can chance the world by smiling.  Or maybe we can just make our lives a little happier.  Maybe we can make the lives of those we love a little happier.  Who knows where a practice of smiling will take me, this is only day 6 of my smiling practice.  It is still a little baby practice.

Today I smiled,  I smiled as I ran, I smiled as I write.  I will smile tonight before I close my eyes and I will smile when I wake up.  Aren't you curious to see what would happen to our lives if we smiled everyday?  Smiled frequently and brilliantly as we went about our normal old everyday lives.  Would they still be normal or old anymore???  I wonder.

1000 days of smiling, running and writing- the secret practice of finding a way to love your life and appreciate everyday!!
         Denise