By Cameron, age 7 and Brennan, age 5. Whare Happyniss Lives. Rule one: Always be happy. Rule Two: Always have a smile on your face. Rule Three: Always have something positive to say.
When I came upstairs yesterday to check on the destructive powers of free play I noticed this sign. It put a smile on my face. I forgot about the mess and asked Cameron to hold up the sign so I could keep a record of such profound wisdom.
As I went through the next few days, I kept flashing back to her sign and thinking “what would my children do in this situation?” Thinking about the sign each time put a smile on my face; rule two accomplished!
What would our days look like if we could follow these three simple rules that children accomplish so naturally! When did we forget to smile? When did we forget to be happy? When did we forget to focus on what is positive in our lives?
There is neuroscience, my favorite topic, behind these three simple rules. Smiling through hard work outs makes them easier. Being happy is a choice. Choosing to focus on the positive retrains our neural pathways.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia
SOOOOO TRUE….THANK YOU FOR THE SIMPLE REMINDER…..”.A MAN IS AS A MAN
THINKETH”
Peyton:
Glad you enjoyed this 🙂
I agree, “don’t worry, be happy”!
woo woo woo woo woo
Its not unusual as adults to get hangup on reality….but those simple rules are a reality too. Honestly, as responsibilities increase upon our daily lives I think that its ok to schedule on your calendar, smartphone or whatever a reminder to do those simple things. I have often gazed at kids playing and thought to myself “Wow, those kids are fulfilled and seem to not have a worry in the world”. So I say be a kid once in a while and be fulfilled for that moment. Heck I go to Disney to lose myself in that same worrisome way kids do. Life is short but its also what you make of it….right?
Thanks Duncan for the perspective.