Frowning makes you look old...

This morning a somewhat silly children's song was running through my mind as I woke up. I am going to have all my kids together again this weekend. That just makes me feel happy. So, I am smiling and humming as I work on breakfast or my mother-in-law.

My kids will remember that we sang this little ditty while cleaning their rooms years ago, (or other unpleasant tasks...) For those of you unfamiliar with the words:

When you chance to meet a frown,
Do not let it stay,
Quickly turn it upside down,
And smile that frown away.

No one likes a frowny face,
Trade it for a smile,
Make the world a better place,
By smiling all the while.

I may have gotten one or two of the words wrong, but that's pretty close to the way I remember we sang it. While the song itself is completely random, and doesn't allow for the idea that we have the right to feel bad when bad things happen, - many times we would be better served by simply putting a smile on our faces and getting on with life rather than wallowing in sadness as is often the preference for some people I know. Still, please know I'm not taking about depression or any other real struggle. I am only talking about "smiling".

Researchers have shown that smiling makes you look younger. Really? They needed to fund a study to learn that? hahaha That fact only makes sense. Look around at the people you see today while you are out and about ~ you will notice that the ones that are smiling look younger and are more attractive ~ in general. So my reasons for wanting to smile more has nothing to do with having so much to be grateful for. I simply want to look better in the mirror. hahaha

Besides, I am honestly and seriously tired of all the grim news, and the doom and gloom. So, the economy is bad ~ get over it... and welcome to MY world. Our family's economy was bad for years before the rest of the world caught up... LOL We ("personally") aren't in any worse shape than we were 20 years ago. Some of our kids are struggling more than we would like to see, because of employment losses... And we still have medical debt we wish we didn't. We still have to budget carefully to pay all our bills. And we still pray for jobs for everyone in our family and hope that we can keep up. But we have been doing that our whole married life.

For anyone that lives in a vacuum and hasn't heard it before, here is MY secret to survival: (it's the same advice wise men and women all over encourage...) Never give up on dreaming WHILE you ~ work hard ~ spend less than you make every week ~ save for what you want ~ only borrow for education, a home, or car... and then only borrow what you KNOW you can pay it back without overtime figured in, or other "windfalls" ~ finally, decide you are going to be happy with what you have, while you dream, plan and save for what you would like to have, down the road. There is peace and contentment to be found in this advice.

Really, no young couple is entitled to have what their parents have worked a lifetime for... But often I look at lots of young people today, and they seem to truly believe things are important, and that they "need" them. However, things are things, and they go away. If your stuff goes away, you will be fine, but work to hang on to your family, and keep the lines of communications with loved ones open and healthy.

I grew up knowing that family, good health, truth and patience combined with "faith, hope, and charity" are really important. I tell my kids that if they concentrate on those things in life, a lot of other stuff will work itself out. I know this to be true. Of course a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt either.........