Day: March 9, 2026

My beautiful grand daughter just started smiling. It is so beautiful. It is so natural. (this is old – I found this looking through my unpublished posts. But I think it is important)

I came across a study by Ding Li about smiling.

‘When our smiling muscles contract, they fire a signal back to the brain, stimulating our reward system, and further increasing our level of happy hormones, or endorphins. In short, when our brain feels happy, we smile; when we smile, our brain feels happier. Fake it till you make it!’

There is power in a smile. you smile at someone, they smile back. Boom – a connection!

First off – does anyone ever have too many friends? I think I would do a lot to keep a friend. Especially if someone reaches out.

I have found out that I while I was so preoccupied with my situation of exclusion, I have hurt a very important person in my life. I think I was so wrapped in myself  and my needs, I neglected to understand that I was doing the very same thing to her. Thank goodness she was able to point this out. I know I hurt her badly. 

Empathy:  * I copy these words from a website that I really like*

Sharing someone else’s feelings strengthens and deepens relationships.

Empathy begins with understanding life from another person’s perspective. Perhaps that would be where peace could begin.

Brene Brown reminds us that no one reaches out to us for compassion or empathy so that we can teach them how to behave better. If someone does reach out to us, it is because they believe in our capacity to know our own darkness well enough to sit beside them through theirs.

So if you find someone reaching out to you, be honored. Hold the space. Listen well. Extend grace.