Smile, Darn ya, Smile!

Smiling feels good.

For you and for other people.

It opens you up to yourself and those around you.

It expands your perception to the good around you and within you.

Smiling is simply the best.

[.Me and my sister circa 1995, my dad LOVED taking pictures of us.]

I read somewhere that Jimmy Fallon is one of the most liked people in America, large in part to the fact that he is A L W A Y S smiling and laughing and sharing warm gooey ginuine feelings with all of the world.

Seriously, his "I almost dated Nicole Kidman" story is just... The best!

[.Blurry because FUN. L-R: Rachel, Jalayne and I on the way to see DEMI LOVATO QUEEN OF MY WORLD.]

This past month I have been engaging in a self imposed challenge to meditate every single day of the month. And with the exception of 3 days I have been doing pretty well at sticking with it. Some days are harder than others but at the beginning and end of each day, as I sit quietly in my room, breathing, releasing, feeling deeply the words of Thich Nhat Hanh swirl around my head:

[.This is Jasmine. I adore her with my soul. I'm not sure the reason behind this smile, but the joy it exudes is timeless.]

"Breathing in I calm my body

Breathing out I smile.

Dwelling in this present moment 

I know is this is a wonderful moment"

And as I sit and as I breath and as my soul rests, I smile.

[.Jesi Rae. Year 21 celebration, right after Jimmy Needham called me. He is my forever favorite!.]

Because smiling feels good.

Because smiling is simply the best!