when i first moved to my neighbourhood, i was determind to be little ms friendly. so i endorphined my face big time and smiled at everyone, from the mad cat lady down the road to the postie and garbo. i think i scared everyone around me alright. i didn’t make many friends at all, it’s hard to make contact with averted sidelong looks.

so i duly went back to my grumpy disagreeable self. and VOILA! now, everyone wants to talk to me because i look like a killer and they want to get on my good side. or maybe, just maybe, it’s because they see a giant fluffy dog by my side that looks like a polar bear.

I needed to read this one today! Thank you! 🙂

While I don’t like to fake emotions I don’t feel, I think you have a good point. I am still stuck in that “want to be cool” rut a lot of the time myself. But sometimes, even if it is just for something small, I let myself do the happy dance.

It’s hard to change our inherent nature, or even ingrained habits. Baby steps, Pamela, baby steps, so you don’t take on behaviours that feel unnatural and are eventually abandoned. Start with hugging– physical contact is good for the body as well as the soul! Jumping for joy can come later! 🙂