SMILING: Friendship, Gratitude, and Love

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

– Phyllis Diller

When I was in the sixth grade, my parents took me to an orthodontist to correct my overbite. My dad used to call me Bugs Bunny. 🙁 My treatment included extracting four molars followed by putting on braces during the summer going into seventh grade. They stayed on until the middle of ninth grade.

Like a lot of kids, I felt every shade of awkward in middle school, and as far as looks go, glasses and braces added outward signs of being a nerd. A musical nerd, but a nerd nonetheless.

It didn’t stop me from laughing or smiling because I was already shining my light with humor and music.

I had my core group of friends with whom I laughed and smiled, which included BFF-E who took the picture on the left in the photogrid for this post. My friends helped me to forget about anything that was bothering me, including my teeth.

I feel happy and grateful because out of the friendships I formed during childhood, I stay in touch with three of my lifelong friends almost daily. The fourth person, My Huckleberry, and I knew of each other in middle and high school, but it wasn’t until “we went to Facebook together” (hahaha) that we formed our friendship and send messages to each other throughout the day. Even when we’re going through “real shit”, we can still help each other to smile. (Oh, and sharing dank memes also helps, LOL)

Adulthood can be challenging with making new friends. Recently I’ve had online friendships formed through the ukulele community on Instagram, and most have been so helpful with my journey of learning a new instrument. Between smiling at some of their song choices and laughing at a lot of humor, my ukulele friends are lightworkers, raising the vibration.

My biggest group of online-friends-turned-IRL-friends comes from a shared interest in the music of Jimmy Buffett. I may have written about this in an older post, but in 2008 I went to my first Buffett show and tailgated with a group organized in the forums on BuffettNews.com. My first friend from that show is now my BFF-The Surfpirate. Twelve years and going strong. 🙂 Just like my childhood friends, I’ve been able to count on him for laughs, smiles, and support. He’s seen me through my best and worst times, and for that, I am always grateful.

Last night The Surfpirate and I were chatting about social media and corresponding comments on specific posts, and he and I were (no surprise) on the same page about when I feel prettiest, which is when I’m not wearing make up and am just being my goofy self and laughing, such as when I’m doing my progress check videos that become bloopers/outtake “Fbombs and Giggles” videos even when my look is “Frumpy hair. Pajama pants” and laughing.

When he and I were catching up, I had already taken the stillshot that’s the pic on the right in the photogrid for this post and immediately sent it to him in line with our messages. GFMTA.

I’ve said it before – I’d rather people think I “clean up nicely” if they catch me wearing makeup for an occasion than ask if I’m sad or sick if I’m not wearing any and they’re accustomed to seeing me in mating ritual warpaint. [Note: The other day I did wear false eyelashes and lipgloss to record videos, and I even posted a TikTok to explain.]

TikTok… a new playground for being a lightworker through humor and music. I feel certain that some viewers think I’m trying to be a musician, but if I wanted to go that route, I would have pursued it in college when I had a music scholarship. I declined it because “I didn’t want to be a starving artist” <eyeroll> But I do enjoy sharing my outtakes, AND they’re Surfpirate Approved. 🙂

Putting myself out there, I’d say my sense of humor and music have both been pretty well received, but I didn’t realize my posts would also yield kind words about my laugh and my smile. And I say “thank you” because I know what I went through with correcting my bite as well as healing from the not-so-kind words about my appearance when I was growing up.

“But you’re, like, really pretty. So you agree? You think you’re really pretty?”

– Regina George, Mean Girls

My mom told me to always say “thank you” even though I had many times of not feeling pretty, but she wasn’t encouraging me to act shallow. She taught me to accept words of kindness with simple grace. And yeah, true, some people are being obsequious with paying compliments, but saying “thanks” and moving on is enough. I’ve also learned to look at it from the speaker’s perspective, and maybe they don’t hand out compliments easily. Take kind words for what they’re worth AND appreciate that you received something for which other people wish.

I smiled and received more reasons to smile.

It’s been a week since the full moon, and when I let go of what no longer served me, better things appeared.

Manifested.

Magic.

“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”

– Meister Eckhart

Even with everything going on since Tuesday, magic moments brought many smiles to my orthodontically-corrected bite. 😉

And I am ever grateful for all the smiles, friendship, and love in my life.

Luceat lux vestra.