The smile is an amazing thing. Merely by smiling you change your body's chemistry. A smile activates the powers of your body to produce endorphins. Practice smiling especially and particularly when there seems no reason to smile, and it will bring you unseen but important returns and benefits. Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Han encourages "Smile. You do not smile enough. I know that it is difficult, but your smile can change things." Smile at yourself. Smile at others. Smile at the world. Even and especially when you feel there is no good reason to, there are many good reasons to smile.

 

Insight and imagination are within you.

Within the beautiful there resides the deepest of joy. Our senses, our intellect, our feelings and our intuitions sometimes solicit our more thoughtful awareness and attention through people, places and events which touch us--through those moments which cause us to pause and experience something beautiful.

 

 

The feel of clay spinning on a wheel between our hands engages us in a process which produces joy as well as beauty.

 

The soft tinkling of wind chimes sounding through gentle breezes speaks and invites a pause to hear--to listen to something more important.

 

The many changing colors of a sunset shifting--cars lined up at the beach as seagulls alight on high rocks watching--we hear their cries; we see them land. The sense of peace descends upon us as they touch the rocks.

 

A stranger smiles as we pass by--for no apparent reason--we feel the glow of human contact.

 

Within us joy lies waiting for a gentle touch by beauty to awaken and invite her in. Hold the moment caringly.

 

Insight and imagination are within you.