Reading life's finer print
A little-known corollary to the expression "stop and smell the roses" rattles around the back of my brain. The encouragement is to "stop and read the signs." Most days, my music is too loud, I'm chatting on my phone, or I'm just too absorbed in my thoughts to notice the details of my surroundings.
Sure, I strive to slow down my pace and carefully pick my priorities. I TRY to show up and pay attention. I am forever trying to find a new attitude for times when I'm hangry, frustrated, or just plain tired.
Most days, I bumble along and have at least as many fails as wins. Many of the days the fails seem larger than they should (mountain, meet mole hill!), but other days the little wins make a big difference.
Today, was a small win.
I was pulling into a street near our home, and I saw a piece of paper taped to the stop sign. The lettering was tiny and impossible for my eyes to read. I made a quick decision to pull over, get out of the car, walk back to the sign, and see what the author had to say.
This was my reward:
If you stop to read the finer print, you'll notice at least nine colors, four smiley faces, three exclamation points, two hearts, and one star. You can feel the energy of the writer!
Furthermore, the author uses an economy with her words telling us to
-Smile (smiles costs us nothing) -Don't Worry (worry is a choice) -Be Happy (happiness is also a choice) - and -- the pièce de résistance - -Spread the love!
I am inexplicably inspired by this message.
I love that a grade-school kid felt so compelled to encourage people that she thought about making a sign, busted out the colored pencils, and put her favorite expressions out for all the world to hear. I picture her digging through the junk drawer looking for tape, walking to the corner with the sign in hand, and walking away feeling as though she had improved the world.
A small, but noble act.
Imagine how our day would look if we thought like this neighborhood kid.
What if we were overly generous with our enthusiasm? Would the day be different if we decided to live without worry or fear? How radical would we be if we unabashedly loved others well?
Or what if we simply took the initiative to encourage others - even if it's our version of a homemade sign on a street corner?
It would be a good day indeed.