I would always rather be happy than dignified. ~ Charlotte Brontë
There’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons. ~Stephen Chbosky
Just smile!
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Tag Archives: Smile
Natsukashii
Natsukashii (Adjective) Origin: Japanese | A happy recollection of an event or memory.
The adjective originally described wanting to keep something close or wanting to express fondness for something. Over time, this term was used more to describe happy reminiscences, leading to the modern meaning. Take note that this is different from a nostalgic longing, but more of joyous remembrance of a past memory.
I was trying to find a single picture to go with this word. I could not. I have more joyous remembrances of times past than nostalgic longings. I tend not to focus on the things that went wrong. I do sometimes miss what is no longer there but I can honestly say that I would generally never want to go back to any period of my life.
I have no regrets. Do not wish for do-overs. I believe in the butterfly effect. If you were able to go back and change just one thing.. what would be different now? You could not guarantee it would be better. As a matter of fact, it would likely be worse. (you really should watch the movie) I love the journey.
I’m not trying to say it has all been good. I have had some extreme rough patches in life and at times I have been quite devastated by the twists life has presented. However, even those times have shaped me to be the person I am today. The one thing that stands out when I look back on my photos is that at every point in my life, even the worst of times … I smile. I smile and it’s genuine.
When I was about 13 or 14, one of my best friends in junior high gave me a birthday card that read, “The one who laughs… lasts.” (Thanks JoNelle) It was true. I did. I still do.
It’s great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable when it was today. So learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later. George Foreman
Happy memories: Arristela; paradise; nzain; vrunda; Jane; plaridel; Brendan; Teresa; reluctant; Jaya; Tim; wandering; sakshi; supreet; chinhooi; scribble; hope
Day 18 ~ Dear Past, Thank you for … Smiles
“Memories of childhood were the dreams that stayed with you after you woke.”
Every time I start to feel down about myself, all I have to do is pull out a few of my favorite growing up photos and I can’t help myself but to smile. How could you not. Look at that half-crazed, maniacal-looking, happy child.
OK.. well.. not this one. Apparently 1967 or 1968 (can you read the date on this picture?) was not my year (Little Sami, the smallest child on dad’s lap).
“Don’t you wish you could take a single childhood memory and blow it up into a bubble and live inside it forever?”
ahh here we go… just smile… be nice and … just smile
“When I was a kid, I imagined flying holding balloons”
girl; flowers; Alison; Janis; purple; Roshni; moondustwriter; Jane; tanaya
Reflections of myself in others
When someone smiles at me, I realize that I am probably smiling at them. One of my highest priorities in life is to see people smile back at me.
Venezuela, Took 3 men to hoist this post. Well not really but they wanted to pose with it.
tuk tuk – Cambodia
Foot Bridge in Delta Orinoco Venezuela
Everything is for sale – Cambodia
My students always smiled in Korea.
More favorite smiles that bring favorite memories
Dancing in Korea — smiling memories.. miss those days
Mother’s Day.. let’s mess with mom – Maracay, Venezuela
This is one of my favorite smiling pictures.. I wish I knew what led up to the laugh.. I can only imagine.
Smiling???? in Korea
Para Falls Boat ride smiles.
Mask festivals, tea ceremonies and historical re-enactments in South Korea
Holding the chick – Cambodia
Snakes make you smile at Para Falls
Kids at play with very big knife – Cambodia
Students always smiling in Korea
Angie in Korea.. always smiling for the camera
Korean subway, met Elvis’s doppleganger.. though not wrong.. didn’t feel right..
Wow.. another favorite smiler in Korea
Cultural hike in Korea
makes me smile
Only when I am surrounded by my sisters and my daughters can I truly be myself. When I watch them, I am watching myself. When I see them laugh, cry, be goofy, be angry, I am seeing a modified reflection of myself. I am a part of them and they are all every part of me. Even when I am not with them, they are with me.
“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fun with friends is when I am also most myself. Smiling at others to have others smile back at me is what makes me feel most myself.
Made the front page of the social times in a local newspaper just by being there. Seoul Korea
Good-bye lunch – Korea
Skydiving in Higuerote, Venezuela with Skydive Venezuela
Back of cabs with friends. Iphone 5.
Doesn’t get any better than this, I’m sure there’s a Malbec in there somewhere. Wine tasting in Chile
Mask Festival – Andong – Korea
Swimming in a forgotten river in Venezuela with good friends. So beautiful
Smiles or fishlips in Korea – favorite smiler
Happy hour in hollywood – Caracas
Good times in DC and 3 of my favorite smiles
Starting the Trip in New York
Guamanchi tours in Barinas Venezuela rafting trip
New York
Friends in Korea shopping.
Rasberries in Colonial Tovar Venezuela
Smile for the foto – Valley Stream, New York
Truly some of my favorite smiles in DC
Sport Chumps smile for the fundraiser.
A break – Going to Chile for wine tasting
Elmo New York
New York
Awkward smiles in DC..
Santiago, Chile
Lunch with friends in Korea always brought a smile.. always a laugh
Best friend in New York. She always makes me smile
Hollywood – Caracas
Canyoning in Merida with Guamanchi Tours
Paragliding in Merida, Venezuela with Guamanchi Tours
Enjoying Chilean wine in Chile with good friends.
Rafting in Barinas Venezuela with Guamanchi tours.
Possibly a Malbec – Bogota
Skydiving in Higuerote, Venezuela with Skydive Venezuela
Funny how smiles can make lasting impressions in DC
Over the top smiles in Venezuela
Seriously one of my most favorite smilers in DC
New York
Chile with another one of my favorite smilers
Mother’s Day lunch with great friend and her family of over 15 years.
Playing with some kids at an orphanage in South Korea. Worked with the Organization PLUR started by my friend Danny
Happy Hour in Hollywood – Caracas
4th of July – presenting a front – Caracas
Animal Safari with Guamanchi tours in Los Llanos
Go Navy – Caracas
Lunches in Korea
Venezuela Animal Safari with friends and family
DMZ – woot woot – Korea
“This life is for loving, sharing, learning, smiling, caring, forgiving, laughing, hugging, helping, dancing, wondering, healing, and even more loving. I choose to live life this way. I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, ‘aw shit, he’s up!”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Other Blogs of Self
The Sequence of Events that Led to the Smile…
“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
― Mother Teresa
The smile.. oh the smile. It is what draws me to a person and it’s one of the criteria’s from which I judge who will be my lasting friend. I know it’s wrong to base an entire life-time friendship on how a person smiles, but I do. If you smile frequently or can make me smile frequently.. rest assured we will be fast friends and will wage life’s storms together for many years.
As I’ve mentioned in many past blogs, I love to take pictures. One of the reasons I love to take pictures is that they capture very precious memories for me and I can go back and remember that one moment in time. As I said in Photographs and Memories “I can’t explain exactly what it is about these specific photos that cause me to pause or smile, I just know that they do.” and for me that is what’s it’s all about.
1972 or 1973 Family foto
Now having said this, I must admit that the 2nd reason I am obsessed with photos of people smiling is that I have spent my life not knowing what to do when I am in front of a camera. I usually look somewhat confused and often-times a bit crazed. Can you guess which one is me?
Wait Let me help.
Crazed gleam in eyes – all teeth showing
I just can’t seem to get that photo perfect smile down. My sister has been trying to teach me “the look” which apparently is a perfect smile that draws people in, makes them want to get to know you and sometimes even makes them wonder what you’ve been up to. I’ve definitely developed a look, but it’s scary. Even to me.
I’m just glad friends don’t choose me for my ability to take a good smile picture.
My inability to capture a normal smiley photo has been the bane of my existence. It is usually the reason I am behind the camera.
There are tons of instructional websites that “teach” you how to take the perfect foto. None of them have worked for me. I’m not the only one obsessed with how to take a great photo or how to look great in a photo. I know this as there are a million sites out there that try to tell you how to do it.
However, when I later look back on my favorite pictures, they all typically include people smiling or laughing or pretending to smile. I love candid shots and sometimes those are the pictures that don’t have the perfect smile they were just perfect moments in time that made me happy. When I’m having a bad day I go back and preview video’s or photos of my favorite people laughing and having a good day and there it is.. bad day gone. If you are having a bad day try it. It’s amazing how often this works. I would encourage everyone to start a video/photo journal of happy times.. it’s a great hobby and a great pick me up.
Research has proven that forcing a smile or a laugh when you are feeling down or a “fake it to make it” attitude can really permanently change your attitude. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Just looking at a smiling face can make a person smile even if they are not aware of it. There are serious health consequences behind smiles that should not be underestimated. The reasons to smile are innumerable. Even if no one else is around to reap the benefits.. it just feels good.
Smiling is an amazing opportunity to make yourself stand out as well as a way to improve your health, lower stress levels, and bottom line, it just makes you more attractive. Remember the one who laughs lasts.. start the day with a smile.
Whether it is my own granddaughter or random babies. Laughing babies always make me smile. Check these out. If they don’t improve your mood and make you smile or even laugh out loud i won’t believe you. Video of my granddaughter- Baby Jemma laughing. Laughing baby in highchair. Laughing baby ripping paper. Laughing quadruplet babies.
They are not always the prettiest and some aren’t even true smiles but these are some of the people and events that make me smile. Even my least favorite photos of myself can bring a smile to my face now. So there it is. I hope you enjoy.
More posts to make you smile – How to include humor in your life. Animals. Smiling Men.
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- The Girl in the Picture (ironicallychronic.com)
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