Tag Archive | smile

Mask?

Apr24

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To wear a mask or not to wear a mask?

First they said, don’t wear a mask 

We need them for the health care workers

That made sense

Then they said why don’t you make home made masks?

“Not all of us can sew!”

They said use a bandana

“That would look wired”

They said you can buy one on line

“That I can!”

 

The masks arrived after a few days

They looked cute

But for some reason I didn’t want to wear them

 

My smile tells people I’m friendly

My smile communicates warmth and love

My smile can brighten someone’s day

My smile makes me feel good inside

 

How am I supposed to let people know I’m smiling at them

If my mouth is covered with a mask?

I could paint a smile on my mask

But that would look awfully creepy

 

Some people wear masks

Others don’t 

If everyone did, it would be easier

So, I continue to wonder

To wear a mask or not to wear a mask?

 

April 24th, 2020

The mysterious smile

Oct7

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Have you seen someone looking at their phone and smiling

It’s an odd image in a way

The phone can’t be funny, you realize  

In reality that person’s attention is somewhere else

Communicating with a friend who can be miles away

You feel a little left out

They smile again and you wonder why

This is the age when distant places come close by

We can communicate with anybody anywhere

So the person on the phone could be smiling

At something their friend in Australia said 

Or seeing a picture of their grand child

Taken that day

 

October 7th, 2019

Beauty

Feb26

white flower

 

What is beauty?
Beauty is in being authentic
Being truthful with ourselves and with others
Being sincere in our daily interactions

What is beauty?
It’s all the colors of the rainbow
It’s the diversity we see

What is beauty?
Beauty is joy
It’s a radiant smile

What’s beauty?
It’s a compassionate heart

Real beauty is invisible to the eye

Feb. 23rd, 2018

Connection

Jul23

You need to extend a hand
Before someone takes your hand
There is risk involved
Courage is required
But almost always
If the intention is right
People are waiting for an extended hand
The barriers are mostly in our own minds
We create them and give them shape
Our insecurities get in the way
Most often, kindness begets kindness
A smile is returned with a smile
And beautiful connections are made
Because someone took the first step
And reached out

July 22nd 2016

encouragement

Nov5

When someone encourages me
I feel like a flower in the sun
I want to stretch my petals
As much as I can

When someone encourages me
My heart smiles
My eyes sparkle
I feel exuberant!

When someone encourages me
The world seems like a kinder place
I feel surrounded by love and care

When someone encourages me
I want to say thank you, my friend
For brightening my day

November 5th, 2015

Peace of mind

Sep4

If we see someone smiling
It doesn’t mean they have no challenges in life
We have gained wisdom if we can smile
Despite the difficulties of life

I used to wonder how is it possible to be happy
Despite the troubles of life
Then I read: ” Peace of mind is the result of
Not paying attention to challenges that are not
worth thinking about”

So, the problem need not go away
My attitude has to change
The importance I give it has to change
My focus should be on positive things
That way, my problems don’t have power over me

I can complain or I can be content
I can look at the glass as half full or half empty
I can put my focus on things that are going well or not
I can be thankful for the blessings I have or not
I can be optimistic that problems can be resolved or not
I can resign myself to situations I can’t change or not
I can try to learn from the difficult experiences of life or not
And finally, I can create my own peace of mind or not!

Lida Berghuis
September 4th, 2015

The happiness police…

Jul27

The happiness police…

Here in Quebec we have the language police
On the look out for too much English
French they feel needs to be protected
Or English will rule the day

In Iran there is the ‘guidance’ police
Guidance re modesty
Guidance re how much make up is allowed
Guidance re how much hair can be visible under your hijab

Is it me or are most of these rules for women?
Why should men get a free pass?

Someone said we need a ‘happiness’ police
Someone who’d stop you if you looked despondent and sad
Someone who’d give you a hug to make you smile
Someone who’d ask you how your day was going so far

Someone who’d carry your groceries for you
Someone who’d help you find the address you’re looking for
Someone just smile at you so you would smile too!

I think our communities would be happier and
Healthier if we had the happiness police in charge!

Loneliness

Jan12

Isolation and loneliness
Like a cancer spreads
The effects are gradual and invisible at first
But eventually manifest themselves

Isolation and loneliness
Don’t seem so harmful at first
But over time they do damage
To our souls and hearts

Isolation and loneliness
Not how we are meant to live
Independence is over-rated sometimes

Contact and compassion what we need
What heals
A smile, a warm touch
A healing medicine

‘How are you doing, are you all right’
Shows we care, helps us connect
Sometimes this is all it takes
To rescue someone from the grip of awful thoughts
Sometimes this is all it takes
To give someone hope to go on

Isolation and loneliness, weakens and saddens
Contact and helpfulness, heals and gladdens!

Lida Berghuis
January 11th, 2015

Connection!

Oct12

We are super-connected
Yet, so disconnected at times
We have the technology
But to transform the world we live in
We need to add heart!
Because when hearts connect
There’’s nothing that can’’t be done!

We have the World Wide Web and the Cloud
We are connected to each other 24 hours a day
But the connection that we need
To change the world we live in
Is super low-tech!

This connection can be made with a smile
A shared moment of joy
It can be made with an eye contact
That acknowledges the other person

This connection is made by feeling the pain of someone who is in distress
Someone who needs a helping hand
And listening ear

For this connection, all one needs is love
A sense of belonging to the whole and
Being responsible for the welfare of all

So, as we get better connected technologically each day
Let’s not forget this most important connection

Lida Berghuis
October 12th, 2014

Inspired by:
Reimaging the world From scarcity to prosperity
Eliane Ubalijoro | TEDxConcordia

My laughter does not age!

Oct6

 

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Are you fearful of getting older?

Not if I’m learning my lessons as I go
Not if I’m contributing to other people’s joy
Not if I’m doing something useful!

Are you fearful of getting older?
Not if I can look at the world with wiser eyes
A more compassionate heart
A twinkle in my eyes

Are you afraid of getting older?
No, since my spirit does not age
My laughter does not get old
My smile is as young as ever!

Yes, my body may not heal as fast as before
But perhaps my spirit can heal faster
There are wrinkles here and there
But why look down on wrinkles
They are the sign of a life well-lived!

So, let’s not fear aging
Let’s celebrate a life well-lived!

Lida Berghuis
October 6th, 2014