Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Nat King Cole , Charlie Chaplin
Whether you are dressed smart, casual, elegant or even scruffy, there is always an added beauty when you wear a smile with it. In as much as a smile costs nothing financially, it can cost a lot emotionally.
Once upon a time, I found it very difficult to smile. I did not see the point of it when deep down inside I was rather unhappy. Suffering from sickle cell meant I was very weak physically – a weakness that was usually misunderstood for laziness by those around me.
The problems with my health caused me to be alone a lot of the times, after all who wanted to be friends with someone who was too weak to play with or do anything active half the time.
Paranoia? Errm…Yes, I was rather paranoid. I had so written myself off that I believed that no one would ever want to associate with me because I wasn’t good enough. I even discouraged those that tried to reach out to me simply because I felt that if they got to know me, they would run a mile – who wants to be seen with someone that limps, is skinny and has spent a good part of their life in hospital (well so I thought).
I felt that no one genuinely liked me, not even God. As a result, I started hating myself without realising it. The hatred I had for myself caused me to develop an attitude that “attack is the best form of defence”. I would gladly wear a frown just to stop anyone from approaching me. I believed that if you can’t approach me, then you can’t get to know me and if you don’t know me, then you can’t judge me. It wasn’t my fault I was born this way so why should you judge me for what I did not bring upon myself nor have any control over the ability to change who or what I am.
Have you ever travelled a similar journey before or are you currently travelling it now? It will be nice to hear from you. My journey ended when I stopped worrying about what others thought and started to look within. When I looked within, I began to see things about me that I never considered important. I noticed that even though I was skinny and walked with a limp, I have beautiful long hair – something I never noticed until I decided to STOP and look within. I began to notice that actually, I am a masterpiece – a uniquely created being.
Gradually the wall I had built around myself began to come down. I gave up the frown and chose to wear a smile instead – a cheap yet priceless item that complements any dressing given by the one who created this masterpiece.
Why don’t you join me on this journey of self discovery – appreciating your uniqueness i.e. what you have been divinely given as opposed to what you don’t currently have. And as you look deeper within, you’ll begin to appreciate the unique and special creation that you are – born with a purpose, yet created unique with a multitude of talents and gifts waiting to blossom like a flower in due season. And after all this, raise up your head and look at the sky above – and smile.