Make Your Soul Smile

I have a soul. I am a soul. I have a body. 

This quote is always a good reminder that we are not made for this world. We are only here for a short time and we really need to be focusing on eternity. I think when you are to focused on this world, the here and now, you cheat yourself out of a happy, great life. This world is fading. This world is crazy. If we look to the things not of this world we will find joy in life.  

I like to make my soul smile. I try to find the things that really make me feel more than "human". I'm not talking about having some super hero power...although that'd be AWESOME (I definitely want to fly)...but I enjoy doing things that, well, make my soul smile. I hope everyone has experienced "soul smiling". Signs of this include (but are not limited to): giggling, smirks and/or smiles, goosebumps, singing songs in your head and/or aloud, losing track of time while doing said activity, and just joyful feelings. 

Art makes my soul smile. I think art is an amazing, raw expression of your emotional being. Sometimes, you don't even know why you're creating what it is you are making but you just like how it looks. When I posted a picture of flowers coming out of my "sleeping beauty" mouth my mom asked "but what does it mean?" and I really didn't have an answer. It was just an idea that I really liked and put it on paper. You don't have to be good to be an artist. Draw because you like it. Paint because it makes you smile. Express yourself in a way that gives you goosebumps. 

You don't have to show people your art if you don't want to but don't let anyone ever tell you you don't have the talent to do something that makes your soul smile. If I listened to people's critiques about my artwork...I would never post it. 

"Well that doesn't really look like you"

"I mean it's cool"

"It's really good I just don't understand it"

Everyone is entitled to their opinions but I don't let other people dictate what it is that I do with my life. 

Especially when it comes to what makes me happy. 

Art isn't just painting or drawing. There are so many ways to express yourself through writing, dancing, just find what makes you light up inside. I am by no means a professional dancer but take me to a wedding and I will be THE FIRST ONE ON THAT DANCE FLOOR. I don't care who is looking at me, who is judging me, dancing lights me up. I can bust a move like it's nobody's business. I dance in the back room at work when nobody's watching or when everyone is watching.

Being silly makes my soul smile. I love being crazy. I want my niece and my nephews to refer to me as being the crazy aunt. I don't want to be crazy in the "she's psychotic and seems unstable" way. I want to be crazy in the "she is so loud but hilarious I want to be her friend, take whatever she's taking, give me some of that joy" way. Anytime I'm around my friends, the greatest joy I get is making them laugh, being stupid, making faces, just feeding off each others silliness. My husband is my number one partner in crime for the silliness. Doing pretty much anything with him will make me smile. We have nerf gun wars, tickle fights, scare videos, oh the list goes on and on to just have fun.
I want to laugh until my belly hurts. I want to laugh until tears cloud up my eyes. I want to laugh until noises can no longer be formed because my vocal chords locked up. This is probably the easiest way to make your soul smile if you ask me. Find friends, find family, find strangers that will help you find your crazy. The good kind not the I'm going to have a horror movie based after me kind.

Last thing I can say about soul smiling is read your bible and pray. You may not be religious. You may not believe in God but I'm telling you He's there. If there is one thing I am totally sure of in my life it's that God is with you always even if you turn your back to Him. I talk about making my soul smile as if I am deeply connected to it and feel it because I am connected to it and I do feel it. Everyone is a soul. I can feel mine because I am constantly aware that I am not made for this world because of the Holy Spirit that resides in me. I have to admit there are times when I fade away and don't read my bible, don't pray as often and I lose touch with the holy spirit. When that happens I really do feel disconnected from my soul. Maybe you've never really felt your soul smile and if not try praying. Try reading the bible. We should be focusing on eternity cause this world is fading. God has such a bigger plan than you could even imagine for yourself. I'm so thankful to know what makes my soul smile. Take time to find what makes your soul smile as soon as you possibly can!