Do you smile absentmindedly?

I certainly don't...or at least not enough.

Today I think my post will be a little lest structured (if I'm capable of such a thing). I just want to put a something out there that has been stuck in my head.

I was watching Mamma Mia the other day - our last movie from Netflix, since I canceled out membership this week to save $ - and the mom mentioned that her daughter often had an absentminded smile on her face. For some reason this really stuck out to me. It seemed like such a compliment - I know at times it could be a major insult if one put more emphasis on the absentminded part - but I think I could use a few more absentminded smiles. My problem is probably that I'm rarely absentminded; I'm often checking off a to do list, making a to do list, mentally scheduling how I will accomplish something, or even berating myself for not accomplishing my to do list (lately I've kept busy enough that I haven't had time for this last one though, I see this as a very good thing). My mind stays busy. Maybe if I let my mind take a break once in a while I could smile absently? Just thinking about the idea of that seems impossible. However, there are exceptions. I can smile when I'm watching or reading something I enjoy, but that isn't really the kind of smiling I'm talking about. I would like a smile to be my default face. It just isn't. Couldn't my thinking face have at least a hint of a smile in it? I believe this week I'm challenging myself to smile intentionally whenever I can possibly think of it.

Why do I care so much? The other day I was doing a yoga video - trying hopelessly to get exercise back into my life, especially since I spend hours a day carrying around my 26 lb wiggle worm. I haven't done the video a second time, o well. Anyhow, the instructor kept reminding the viewer to smile when certain stress relieving poses were accomplished or something like that. The first time she did it I thought it was kinda kooky. What does smiling have to do with my exercise, yoga lady? But then I realized, I was never smiling when she told me to - I needed the instruction.

I'm not an unhappy person at all, but does my face truly show it? It should. I know our amazing God. He cares for me and keeps me. I have a funny, active, adorable baby. My husband is hilarious, really he is. It's one of my favorite things about him. I'm doing what I love and loving what I'm doing. I have amazing family - biological, through marriage, and church. I enjoy food and this month at least we have plenty of it. Our house is organized inside and out. And so much more. So there. This week I will smile more. Maybe you should too.

Well, I'm off to get Ariel out of her crib, do laundry, and make banana bread and zucchini bread - smiling while I do it.