Smile…sometimes it is the best answer

I was driving my kids around three days after Christmas so they could make exchanges and spend money that they had received as gifts. In the parking lot of Barnes and Noble I decided to pull over to the side of the very wide parking lot isle to wait for my son. I made sure I was not blocking and I was prepared to move forward if someone approached from behind.

A man and woman approached from the main road and prepared to turn into the isle where I was sitting. They were on the opposite side of the road with plenty of space to turn. But they were not happy with me. They pointed to me and gestured that I should move…even though I was not in their way. I smiled and waved back.

They glowered and moved on. One of my sons asked what the people were doing and I said, “They don’t like my decision to be here.” My son said, “Should you blow your horn?” I said, “No, smiling will bother them more…and make us laugh.” And we laughed.

It is amazing how much control you can have over your emotions when you decide to. This works in the barn also. Smile, laugh and have fun. Sure you can be successful but be sure that you are having fun along the way.

4 Comments

  1. Sherri on January 4, 2012 at 11:27 am

    It reminds me so much of the time we were trail riding and had to go down a road which the owners had given us permission to ride on. As I came around the corner, further behind you and your aunt, I waved and smiled to the people who were “talking” to you as you went by. It wasn’t until further down the road when I caught up to you that you told me they were scolding you for being on “private property.” Funny, they just waved to me on the way by. I knew we had permission to be there. LOL I think it shocked them when they saw me smiling and waving.
    Love you, Mom

  2. Olivia on January 4, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Hahaha!!! I have done that before, not necessarily the parking but the waving thing, lol, I love it

  3. Dawn Beard on January 3, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    By and large folks know when they are misbehaving. If we get pulled in by being reactive… well that is just not very satisfying 🙂

  4. Anna Mae Gold on January 3, 2012 at 11:35 am

    Lovely! Yes, choosing our emotional response is important and possible. Most of us believe that our emotional responses are involuntary and triggered by events and circumstances outside of ourselves. Once we discover we can actually choose our emotional state, we gain mastery over our life. Feel Good Now! http://annamaegold.blogspot.com/2011/11/feel-good-now.html

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