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Smile!

By Marie Craig

“When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins come into play too. The endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, whereas the serotonin is an antidepressant.”

I don’t have a biology background to understand what these big words really mean, but the whole concept of happiness/smiling/pretending is appealing to me. I do think that this is a valid concept.  I have a theory that when most of us were wearing masks in public a couple years ago that we were training ourselves that it didn’t matter if we were smiling or not, since nobody could see inside that mask.  We just had private poker faces as we saw friends and strangers in the stores or at church.  Perhaps we got into the habit of not showing joy on our faces and now we are stuck with these blah expressions and resulting negative feelings.  If smiling can make us happy and well, not smiling can make us sad and unhealthy physically and mentally.

It’s a contentious environment right now as people face high prices and caustic political views against each other.  We have problems, but we also need to be happy and encourage each other.  It’s too bad there’s not a monitor such as a blood pressure cuff or thermometer that would rate our personal smile health.  Laughter is also thought to be a good therapy for us.  “Laughing is internal jogging” is a quote I read once.  Years ago, four of us couples would take turns eating supper in each other’s homes.  We would tell funny stories and laugh until our ribs hurt.  Wonder if anybody does that anymore?  I hope so.  We would always feel better and more optimistic after these great sharing sessions.

Good clean humor goes a long way toward helping people cope.  Television used to be funny and helpful.  I don’t have TV service anymore because it’s sometimes so lewd and full of yucky language, that I choose not to pay money to be offended.  Call me old fashioned; that’s me, I guess.  Things could be better and people could be happier and more grateful for the blessings they do have.

Look around to see if anybody is watching you closely.  If not, turn your smile on.  Hold it.  Do you feel those molecules and neurotransmitters racing around inside you making you happier and less depressed?  Practice this and then try it out in public to enhance your life.

Thrive In ’24 – ‘25

By Julie Terry Cartner

‘Twas the night before school’s start and all through the halls,

The ghosts of past students pass by still silent walls.

The echoes of banter from children and teens

As they learn skills of life and scholarly means,

The tip-tapping clatter of high heels and boots,

Will vie with the chatter, the laughter and hoots.

The swish-slide of sneakers, the flip of the flops,

Will mingle with gossip, lectures and shop.

New backpacks now filled with pencils and pens,

Bright colored notebooks, both women’s and men’s,

And rulers and tissues, cause zippers to strain,

‘Cause the sides bulge out like the student’s brain.

Inside each classroom the teachers prepare

With lessons, and rules to make everything fair.

Pictures and quotes fill bulletin boards

Designed to engage, to lure in the hoards

Of cautious students who want to learn

Anticipation warring with fears and concern.

The thing to remember – all are on the same team

To make learning relevant, engaging, supreme.

So good luck and best wishes to both young and old

And all those between – be brave and be bold.

Seek to learn and learn to seek.

Strive for greatness, be daring, not meek.

Make this year the brightest, the greatest, sublime.

Learn, and grow, speak out, and design.

Strive for great learning, and earn what you’re due

And most importantly, be the best you can you.

Another Friend Says Goodbye

By Gaye Hoots

Three weeks ago, one of my closest friends called me to tell me that his best friend had passed away. Both men were 92 years old and had been friends for many years. Jimmy lived near Jefferson, NC, and I had taken Leo there to visit him several times. After I moved to the coast, his grandson took him for visits. They talked daily on the phone. Jimmy had heart problems, and his health had declined to the point that he was housebound and cared for by his daughter ,and he had home health care.

Neither of the men planned to leave their homes and were grateful they could stay there. Leo had survived strokes but recovered and the day before this fatal brain bleed, he told me he had mowed his yard. From the time Jimmy died, Leo told me daily that he didn’t know how much time he had left but that he was prepared to go when God called him. His most fervent wish was to be able to maintain his independence until his death.

Leo was lucky to have his son living beside him, his grandson in an adjoining property, and his daughter within walking distance. He had several great-grandchildren and visits from them brightened his days. Leo attended a Lutheran church from his childhood until his death and participated the Sunday before his death. He had lost most of his friends from church one by one to death.

When his son called to tell me what had happened to him, I asked him to get in touch with a female friend who also spoke with him daily. On my last visit to Leo, I took him to visit her but only remembered her last name. Carson told me Leo had no numbers stored in his phone but placed all calls from memory. I was amazed as there was only one number I had memorized. The others are stored in my phone. I have my daughter’s written in my purse in case something happens to my phone.

Most of my female friends, other than my sister, are living and fairly healthy, but I have lost many male friends. All of them expressed the same wish, which I also espouse, and that was to die with their boots on and all were blessed to go without losing their independence.

This week I received a phone call from Betty West, who is 92 and sounds very lively. She called to tell me her husband knew my father well and had always appreciated his humor. That made my day. I inherited his ability to laugh at myself and have not run out of opportunities yet.