THE KEEP SMILING BAG

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

THE KEEP SMILING BAG

by

Jamie Dedes

A lifetime ago I had a job in social work where I was privileged to work with folks who were everyday heroes in desperate circumstances. There were many things we could do to help our clients. Sometimes, though, I found that what people felt was most bracing and cherishable were small, personal, keepsake kinds of things: like THE KEEP SMILING BAG. A Buddhist might call it a Metta Bag, a Catholic, a Caritas Bag, a Jew, a Chesid Bag. A Native American might consider it a Medicine Bag. Since I learn from all and affiliate with none, I just call it THE KEEP SMILING BAG. It’s full of little reminders of how one might help oneself in difficult circumstances. These are certainly trying times.  You may have a few people in your life who could use a KEEP SMILING BAG. You might even prepare one for you. If you do this, do it with intension.

Here are the supplies you’ll need to gather:

• Small, cheerful gift bags
• Little decorative erasers
• Glass marbles
• Colored rubber bands
• Assorted colored crayons
• Birthday candles
• Hershey’s Chocolate Hugs and Kisses
• Silk ribbon

1. Eraser – to help make the heartache disappear
2. Marbles – for when you think you’ve lost yours
3. Rubber band – you can stretch yourself beyond previously known limits
4. Crayons – events may color your life, but you choose the colors
5. Silk ribbon – to tie everything together when it seems it’s all falling apart
6. Stars – dream, expand your awareness of the possibilities
7. Candle – your inner light that is the true you, bigger than the circumstances of your life
8. Hugs & Kisses – Someone cares. Me! 🙂