Let a Smile be ...

Today's bit of wisdom from the Jewish quarter of Beliefnet is as follows:

To smile at your neighbor is more important than to treat him to a drink.- Johanan b. Nappaha, Talmud: Ketubot

As I'm in a particularly smily mood today, it resonated with me. Although I find myself smiling more when the sun is shining, there are other stimuli that work. And receiving good news is one of them.

In that regard, though, one's mindset helps determine what will be deemed to be good news and just how good it will strike one. Another piece of today's wisdom, Buddhist flavored, addresses that point:

Before, this mind went wandering however it pleased, wherever it wanted, by whatever way that it liked. Today I will hold it aptly in check--as one wielding a goad, an elephant in rut.-Dhammapada, 23, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

I've been following a piece of advice I received in a mini-session of spiritual direction at last weekend's retreat on Jewish Spirituality - which is to constantly pray a 'metta' prayer for myself when I don't need to be focusing on something else. I worked up my version of this prayer some years ago and use it on occasion to wellwish someone who happens to pop into my mind:

May ___ be kind and loving; may ___ be peaceful and at ease; may ___ be well; may ___ be happy.

So I've been praying this for myself the past week when walking to the bus stop, to the office, towards home, etc. And I think it really helps my mood, as well as encouraging me to act kindly and lovingly, and to relax, etc.

It's a lovely sunny day today, and I have social plans for this weekend and synagogue work of interest to do. And I'm trying to keep my mind running in peaceful, positive channels. It's a good day. Zeh hayom asah Adonai, nagila v'nis m'cha vo. This is the day God has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.