Smile. Part zwei.

I tried another smiling test today. To see how people who didn't know why I was smiling would react. I tested it on my family, and all through dinner my face was adorned in a bright teeth-showing smile. And they reacted exactly how I predicted they would. 

My mother could not stop furrowing her eyebrows at me and neither could a friend of the family, who was eating over. My mother, mother's friend, father and sister then continued to conspire what could be "wrong with me" to make me smile like I was. 

The guesses follow:

Honey, did you inhale too much cleaning fumes? (We cleaned the whole house today, my aunt is coming)

Are you on drugs?

Did you take Prozac? (followed by, "How could you, I didn't write you a prescription...")

Is there something in my teeth?

She's up to something...

Did you put something in the pie?

You, aren't engaged, are you?!

In retrospect, it was actually almost impossible not to smile. I highly suggest this experiment to anyone who wants to test reactions, or just needs to smile.  

In all honesty, I think it's too bad how people don't expect others to smile. It's sad to me... making me wish people smiled more. So smile gosh darnit!

Put on a happy face!

I consider myself a pretty happy person. I have minimal complaints, and for the most part, I like my life. Though, I believe a large part of this is to have come from the amount of time I spend smiling. I smile for all occasions: at people in the halls, at jokes, or just because I am purely enjoying myself. 

Yes, I'm partly aware of whatever scientific reason proves this. Something about endorphins(I think?) being released by some trigger(or signal?) from possible muscles when you smile. (Oh yes, take note of my expansive knowledge there.) But I think it's more than this. 

Our bodies all have muscle memory. You do something one time, and the body stores a memory of it, so it is easier to perform at another time. Perhaps it is the same with smiling? All through our lives, we smile when we are happy, mirthful, laughing, or delighted. I find it very possible, that when we smile, our bodies could be making a memory of the feeling when smiling occurs. The mind can recall feelings, make you feel sad or upset over things, that have happened recently or years ago. I do not think there is an impediment for happy feelings.

So, I put it to the test. Today in TOK, I sat with a few of my friends, and smiled for about 25 minutes straight. (Yes, it hurt.) When we finished, I immediately noticed myself in a brighter mood. I was willing to laugh and enjoy more than I probably would have had we not done it. Part of it was because the smiles we were attempting were a little droopy by the end, and were just too hilarious to not smile. But the other component, I feel, really has to do with smiling itself. It surely makes you happier, instantly. I guarantee it. C: 

I take thee, procrastination, to be my lawful wedded...

I never understood why people do it to themselves. What force on the planet drives them to put things off for later, when they can do them right then? We're always perfectly aware of how horrible it will be in the future once it is put off, yet we still insist on it. 

The usual mentality being, that by some miracle you will suddenly be filled with the work ethic in 12 hours that you seem to lack in the present. And then you go and do something else instead of working, but all you can think about is what you are not getting done! 

Although I do think distraction is a big part of it with me. It would be much more convenient if the television was not going when I happen to pass through the room. 

And even this journal entry is the perfect example. Because it's been a draft that has been constantly edited for a running month! Ridiculous, no?

The mind is lazy. Especially after being worked for 8 hours, everyday, all week. There is a point where it says, "Sheesh! I deserve a break. You can do this tomorrow." And generally, we give in, and then go through one stressful day of thinking the next day to make up for lost time. And after that day, our mind is exhausted again. It's a cycle! 

Winter Break (<- look. I'm politically correct! -_-) is coming up in a few days, and I'm very aware of the homework that I will possibly have over it. I am encouraging those of us who will be in my position, to come with me. In my fight against...procrastination! I vow not to do homework on the last day of break...we'll see how my mind feels.  

Those greedy Americans...

Do not have any holidays where the focus is something other than presents or food. 

That was how I intended to start this journal. I really tried to think of all the reasons why Americans are greedy on holidays, but I tripped. I cannot make myself relate to write sentence upon sentence of rant. I have trouble putting myself into another family, because in my naivety, I feel like other families treat holidays the way my family does. However, I know this is not true in certain cases, for how many other families have a birthday on Christmas Eve (Me.), and then Christmas (My dad.)? 

But with holidays like Thanksgiving, before we eat we always go around the table and say what we're thankful for. I usually mumble something quietly along the lines of, "I'm thankful for my family, and our safety. That we have food on the table...etc." 

Admittedly, I don't really listen to what my family has to say, because in the mean time, I'm too busy saying what I'm really thankful for. In my head. (Horrible, right?) Although I hope that a lot of families share around the table, I cannot help but doubt that so many of them are reeaaalllly thankful for what they are saying. Are they really grateful for what they have? Just from eavesdropping over conversations of others, I really think they don't. 

I can't help but feel like people really expect to be given things on Christmas, instead of being the one to give. When did Halloween turn from celebrating the end of the "lighter" half of the year, to a candy-giving palooza where a lot of kids don't even dress up anymore? It's sad to me, that that has what it has become. 

I suppose upon reflecting over this, I did end up bashing anyway. So..whoop! I did what I intended. ^^;