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2009-04-07

You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

You're never fully dressed without a smile
Image by kennymatic

Can you hear the tune?

Who cares what they're wearing
From Main Street to Saville Row,
It's what you wear from ear to ear
And not from head to toe
(That matters)

My toes are tapping now. (It's from the musical Annie for those of you who don't recognize it.)

I do, in fact, believe that it matters what you're wearing from head to toe. But if I had to choose between being a smiling woman who's still wearing her PJ's and a beautifully dressed woman who's angry, frowning, or has a generally unpleasant countenance...I'd go with the smiling PJ's girl.

Why is a simple smile so important?

1. It sets a tone for our homes.
The other day I talked about the difference beween home management and homemaking. I said that homemaking is the part of our job that encompasses creating beauty for our families. A smile is a beautiful way to start gracing your home with some beauty.

2. It brings encouragement to hearts.
Have you ever felt encouraged by a genuine smile from a friend? Has the smile of your child ever lifted your spirit? What about a gentle smile from your husband? Yes, smiles are powerful sources of encouragement. In fact, your own smile can lift your own spirit!
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." (Proverbs 15:30a)

3. It's good for you!
Apparently, smiling releases certain hormones and endorphins that relieve stress and make you feel better. The research shows it. But God didn't need our research to know this truth, did He?
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22a)

4. It's hard to frown when you're smiling.
When you actively pursue a cheerful attitude with a smile, it's a lot harder for a frown to creep onto your face. Purposeful smiling on "one of those days" can make all the difference in the world. Choose a smile.

5. It's the quickest, cheapest, best way to make yourself more attractive.
Have you ever caught yourself in the mirror while you were giving your sweet husband or darling children one of those looks? I have. It wasn't pretty. We've all seen women who were beautifully dressed, but whose countenance made them ugly. Let's not look like that!

Sometimes I have a day when I'm still wearing my PJ's and I'm frowning at everyone and everything. But I'm getting there. And I think that my family would agree that most days I smile more than I frown. Smiling definitely works for me. Try it!

3 comments:

Jenn @ Beautiful Calling said...

Oh Brianna, this is just what I needed today REALLY!

Amanda @ Mommy's Idea Book said...

Your article makes me think of what my husband does when me or the kids are ill about something.

My husband, in an effort to cheer us up, looks at us and starts saying "your corners are turning up," in other words, he can just about see a smile creeping up on our faces.

No matter had mad I think I want to be, when he does this, it always ends up making me smile. Of course, once I smile, I feel much better.

Thanks for the article. It has made me smile already today.

Niki Jolene said...

Great post!

Ya know I used to be all about this when I was younger. When I was a young college student trying to make good impressions I used to smile all day long in classes, while working PT in a local school (hoping to knab a FT job someday) and it was contagious. People always commented on how I was alwyas smiling. And it carried throughout the whole day.

I should really do this in my own home, too.

:)

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