March Break: Smile.

When you are sitting in a car for hours on end, there is no choice but to make your own fun.  Our family does that well.

During the drive back from Florida, with Sheldon and Juliana both asleep in the back, I started to doze off.  The sun was in my eyes so my face was kind of squinty-eyed and pouty.  That's when Peter said "Smile.  You look mad."

Huh.

That sounded like a challenge.  And there's nothing I like more than a challenge.  Except maybe a challenge by Peter so "be careful what you wish for" was my reply.

And then I smiled.

A big toothy smile. 

For over an hour.

It was uncomfortable at first.  But every time I caught Peter looking out the corner of his eye, trying to check for my ridiculous grin, it fuelled me more.

By about the 20 minute mark, I realized that I could actually feel the endorphins flowing.

By 40 minutes, I realized that my soul was actually feeling happier.  Lighter.

At 50 minutes Sheldon woke up and when I turned to grin at him, he yelled at me.  He thought I was making fun of him.  "Seriously?  By smiling at you?"  (Perhaps I'm not the only one in need of smile therapy.)

Once I was safely past the 60 minute mark, I stopped smiling.  But, honestly, I could not stop feeling happy.  That stayed with me for hours.

Why did I smile like an idiot for that long?  I have no idea.  But given the side effects,  I'm glad I did.

Later, when Peter said something that ticked me off, instead of getting angry I just flashed my ridiculous big smile, both of us burst out laughing, and all was good again.