“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
The other day, I was looking through friends’ Facebook albums–and by friends, I mean teenage cousins, readers I’ve yet to meet, and acquaintances from high school.
It all started so innocently, clicking on a recently added photo on my wall, and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in the lives of people I rarely see, have never seen, or haven’t seen in years.
There were, of course, hundreds of photos of each person in different exciting destinations–kind like that garden gnome that shows up in pictures from places around the world. That’s a big part of the Facebook photo appeal, after all; it’s a memorial for all the fun you want to remember you had (or show other people you had).
But what mesmerized me weren’t the exotic locations or momentous occasions. What captivated me were the smiles. The real smiles, the kind that starts with your eyes and reveals that you are present, peaceful, engaged, and truly grateful for the moment you’re enjoying. They had no idea, but their smiles brightened my day.
I started thinking about some research I read recently that revealed Facebook can make people unhappy, because we tend to compare ourselves unfavorably to other people, based on their updates and photos. In that moment, I realized that regardless of where we go or what we have to celebrate, we can all have that same unbridled joy–if we’re willing to create it.
We can all make time for the people and things we love and create those beautiful, genuine smiles. Ultimately, that’s what we all want–not other people’s lives, but the joy we sometimes forget is always available to all of us.
Today if you start feeling like you don’t have a lot to smile about, ask yourself: What do I love, and how can I fit it in today?
Photo by DaveyBoyee
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others do the same. She recently created the Breaking Barriers to Self-Care eCourse to help people overcome internal blocks to meeting their needs—so they can feel their best, be their best, and live their best possible life. If you’re ready to start thriving instead of merely surviving, you can learn more and get instant access here.
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