Are you Happy? Remind your face!

Has anyone ever asked you why you are looking at them that way and you were not sure what they meant? I admit that has happened to me more often than I want to admit. Often, I have thought I was just listening intently but obviously that look doesn't portray what I am really feeling and it can be a bit offensive to onlookers. 

I was listening to the Follow Him podcast - Christmas Edition - and the guests (Pres. & Sister Meredith) told a story of how when he was serving as Bishop and feeling the weight of his calling sat on the stand for sacrament meeting thinking about an earlier meeting. After sacrament meeting his wife approached as he was leaving the stand and said, "Are you happy?" He looked at her surprised and said, "Of course I am." She responded, "Well, remind your face." 

This thought has stuck with me all day. As I walked to church this morning I thought about this and smiled the whole way. There is a man in a wheelchair that I see quite often when out walking. He comes to church occasionally and although he cannot communicate verbally he exudes joy. I passed him on my walk and smiled at him in his Santa hat. He stopped and motioned with thumbs up asking if I was okay. I motioned back with a thumbs up and asked the same back. With great energy he tapped his chest and gave a hearty and enthusiastic thumbs up. I wished him a Happy Christmas and continued on with an even bigger smile because of his joy.

I too have misinterpreted what is going on with someone else based on the expression on their face. It would do me good to ask questions that would help me understand or give someone a chance to put on an expression that better portrays what they are really feeling. Whenever I see people running they usually look miserable and I wonder why they do it if they are not finding joy in it. Then I think of all  the years I ran and wonder if that is how I looked. I admit it is probably easier to keep a smile on my face when walking than running.

As I have pondered this more I realized that a genuine smile is always received well and often returned automatically.
A proper smile is one expression that I can control and give and receive as intended. 

Keep Calm and Smile On!

​Cheers!