Week 9
"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared"
--Buddha
You don't have a
meter on you that reads "HAPPINESS METER: LOW" each time you share
joy. You don't deplete yourself of joy every time you spread it. In fact, when
you share happiness with a kind word, a smile, or even just holding the door
open for someone else or letting someone pull out ahead of you in traffic you
spread joy. It makes you feel good. It makes them feel good. It's actually a
bit of a stress reliever, doing a kindness. And, it will probably catch the
person you are showing kindness to off guard, possibly even making their day.
It will probably make them feel so good that they will want to keep it going
for the next person they run into. And then you will most likely feel like
doing more for someone else after that, too. And then you're smiling at people
that you pass at work or at the store...
If you are a chronic grump, like I used to be, this sounds
impossible, I know. Sometimes there are things going on in your life that are
so overwhelming that you may not even be able to muster one smile, let alone
grin like a fool at everyone you meet. But you owe it to yourself to at least
try it, for your own sake. Baby steps…after all, it's not the people's fault
that you pass in the grocery store if you can't make your house payment. When
you are treated badly by someone else it affects your mood, right? And when
someone shows you a kindness that does, too. Did you see them melt before your
eyes like the Wicked Witch of the West? I doubt it. And you won't, either, no
matter how much you think you might.
Do a little experiment, if just for yourself. Start small if
you think you might be overwhelmed. This may sound so funny to those of you who
have no trouble with being an extrovert who can share themselves openly with
loving-kindness. But for some people, getting there is a struggle. It took me
years to learn how to break down my walls and let people in. Sometimes it even
takes a major life event. But it doesn't have to. You can start breaking down
walls by just opening one door.
Just because it's the door to the gas station doesn't make
it any less significant.
Good luck on your journey...
Namaste,
Nanette
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