I rolled into my local Starbucks this morning and had absolutely no clue what I would be writing about. Then the music on the “radio” changed. (It’s not a radio, but it’s the house music system and I don’t know what else to call it. It’s like calling a tissue Kleenex.) The song that came on was Smile. You may not know the song, but I’m guessing if you heard it you would recognize it right away. It’s one of those old American Song Book Standards that’s been recorded by tons of people. The version that was playing was from Madeleine Peyroux. The song was actually written by Charlie Chaplin and was inspired by Puccini’s Tosca. The point is that it worked. It made me smile.

It’s a song that encourages us to smile even when we are feeling cruddy. It was sort of an “in all things give thanks” reminder for me. When Mrs MoM and I walk onto the yard at the prison we are greeted by so many incarcerated men who give us a huge smile. It’s a dreary place, yet they smile at us…because of us. Today is a dreary, rainy day and I find myself smiling. It feels good. So even if things aren’t looking great, see if you can turn that frown upside down. It’s fun to make the corners of your mouth…

–Rise Up!!