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Heartwings Love Notes 1018 - How about a Friendly Wave

Heartwings says, "We can all greet one another with friendship."

"Remember your mask," has become a watchword these days. Wherever we go we see masks covering up most faces. I think back to the day that a person wearing a mask was usually wearing it to be disguised, and perhaps for some nefarious purpose. Bank robbers must feel safer these days. Of course, I'm joking, however, it does seem strange after all this time, to be seeing the masked faces everywhere. I can't seem to get used to it.

One benefit is that it keeps the wind chill from affecting my face, and my nose stays warmer. However, I do find it difficult to manage my hearing aids and the mask strings, not to mention my ear covering that ties under my chin. Much mindfulness is required—not a bad thing to be sure, just another opportunity to practice so I'm not complaining. Humor is one way to lessen the effects of difficulties.

Perhaps the thing about wearing a mask that I find most difficult is that my smile, as well as everyone else's is invisible, or I should say, hidden. I'm used to smiling at people. I do it anyway however I am unsure if a person can tell if I am smiling. Maybe it ought not to matter. It might be another lesson in detachment to not be able to know. One friend of mine, when I was mentioning this, said you can tell from someone's eyes if they are smiling. I suppose that's true still it's not what I'm used to.

Smiling is actually good for you. It exercises the muscles of the face. I've read it takes more muscles to smile than it does to frown—and I've trained myself not to frown. I did that long ago when I saw how frowning aged a face. Better yet, smiling generates endorphins—those feel-good emotional vibrations within the body that lift our spirits. The Zen teacher the late Thich Nhat Hahn suggests we smile, just a little, whenever we feel sad or upset. This is because it will help us to work much sooner out of our down mood and into a better one.

Some might say what is there to smile about, citing the various difficulties of the day: Covid, of course, run-away inflation, and bad news of all sorts depending on your location and preferences. My answer to these people is simply that if I can do nothing about anything uncomfortable or dire, it is pointless for me to get upset over it. Getting upset butters no parsnips, as a teacher of mine used to say.

I've come up with a solution to the unsmiling mask. In addition to smiling behind the mask, how about a friendly wave? To acknowledge the presence of another with a gesture might help alleviate the feelings of isolation from which so many suffer. As far as I know waving spreads no germs, and it just might cheer someone up who was feeling lonely.

May you discover ways to shine your friendship despite your mask.


Got any easy recipes to share? Food stories to tell? I so appreciate your comments and thoughts. Please write to me at tashahal@aol.com, and for more love notes, check out www.heartwingsandfriends.com. Thanks!
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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