Month: March 2026

“…If You Just Smile”

Posted on by cdjcollings

There’s a magnifying mirror on my dressing table now. It is a Christmas gift. With it, is my intention to capture the emergence of anything onto my face, from day to day. I mean not to be surprised with any new development. It seems to be working to do that for me. I’m seeing it all, especially the changes around my mouth, that area that reminds me of a bloodhound, droopy and sad. And when did that happen? And how has that been a thing? Ugh!

A discussion I was having was going nowhere recalling the events of the world. And as we are talking about the various developments, I look toward my companion and noticed her face contorted in response to the pile of disasters we were acknowledging, and to such an extreme that I had to comment to her about it. She says to me, “Well you should see your expression right now, not so good.” As we both laugh hysterically, I noticed something. Her normal expression, in repose also reminiscent of a bloodhound, suddenly brightened. All of the lines seemed to have disappeared! She looked 20 years younger!

I was amazed with how much of a change there was. I commented on this and she said she also felt so much better having let go of that conversation.

We decided then and there to try to smile more often. We practiced in front of each other, cracking up with how it seemed as there was nothing to actually smile about. But we had to admit that change that she experienced. And smiling, even when you have no particular reason, most pleasantly takes the lead over negativity and changes your mood!

So I endeavor to smile for no reason at all, just for the sake of smiling. And why not when the alternative is to be taken down with negativity? It feels odd and out of place at first but with time becomes easier and more of an automatic presence of mind.

And what have I noticed? I’ve noticed that many people when they see me seem to gravitate toward me, cheerfully, with smiles on their faces; as though they are relieved for the opportunity to smile with another person. It’s catchy thing! “What, do you mean I don’t have to be burdened with the darkness of world events; that perhaps I can be my own personal happiness event for those within my sphere?” Ah yeah, or so it seems from my recent personal experience.

But guess what else? Looking in the mirror on my bureau, I have noticed the bloodhound jowls are gone!!! Must be the power of the smile engaging muscles that have been dormant for all of the bad news and troubles that we can’t help hearing about; which, I must remember, are those things that I could not change on own. But a smile? Well, who knew how powerful it can actually be? We all have this to give. We can smile. It’s free. It’s easy. And it feels pretty wonderful too!

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When we think of pantomime, we think of none other than the great Charlie Chaplin. He wrote a song entitled “Smile” which was featured in the classic silent film, “Modern Times” in which he starred.

Judy Garland sings it best for me. But you may find your own personal favorite as it has been sung by so many who realize the simplicity and charm of this gem (Nat King Cole, a tough choice between he and Judy…Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand. I understand that it was Michael Jackson’s favorite song). It is one beautiful melody for its simple but powerful message which never gets old, just as the title.

Thank you, thank you Charlie Chaplin!

WOW!

If Not Love

Posted on by cdjcollings

What is the nature of the things we find ourselves doing, saying or thinking? Are they loving?

Love.

All other emotions are degrees of negativity;

deeply-seated as self-doubt can be,

to the other extreme of surface-level, seething anger.

And there’s scathing commentary, appropriate at the time, so it seemed, as it came forth with such fury, but in retrospect, with every recollection, the memory taunts with overwhelming regret.

What about that bit of jealousy of withholding a sentiment that freely expressed might have “made the day” for someone?

You know it would have.

If God, the Heavenly Father is Love, than what is the source of all of the other emotions?

Choose love, my Loves!

Light

Posted on by cdjcollings

With feelings of depression or hopelessness, life is dark; positive emotions so far out of reach, it seems impossible to recall how it feels to be content or happy. The light has been replaced with darkness.

Rather than perceiving this darkness as the opposite of light, it may be more correct in being perceived as the absence of Light, the absence of God.

Because there is none else.

GOD IS.

Every thing is His creation, His majesty.

The synchronicity and the incredible design found in the living things specific for sustenance within an environment is in every living thing on the earth; most incredible and intricate and found in the very smallest forms of life. And the closer we look, there’s even more detail for a specific purpose, beautifully balanced within itself, and with every other thing in the space around it.. all working synergistically, in harmony and in support of the environment, that after being brought into existence lives, grows, multiplies and thrives, unchanged in purpose and being.

Darkness is the absence of Light…the absence of God.

Because there is only ONE, or, there is His absence, dreadful and dark.

1 John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Pray!

This comes to me now:

When I was a child, I have a clear recollection of a summer day, lying in the grass and looking closely at the life forms all around me. I decided to remain motionless to perceive what came into the space in front of my eyes, what I could see without moving my head. I realized the incredible activity and the beauty. Every weed was amazing, I discovered the design in everything. After a while I discovered an entire community of insects living in harmony, each pursuing its particular interest in a flower. Bees flying in to access pollen as some smaller insect that I could not identify went about its business roaming underneath at the stem, resting there it seemed, sheltering from the sun. Butterflies fluttering from one to the next of the wildflowers. And the ants scouting about the ground having discovered some morsel to deliver back home and working in an invisible line with other ants, each briskly baring treasures larger than themselves. And I thought of how the entire yard had to be quietly populated just as the space was where I decided to lie down after eating my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. For many days after that, I remained conscious of what my every step might be destroying whenever I went out into my backyard.

Have a beautiful day everyone!

God loves you!

Char

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A few years ago, I was grappling with a health condition which defied understanding of several medical professionals. After extensive online research, I myself would come to discover what was keeping me ill. The process was draining and exhausting. One day, at my desk wondering where else to look for answers, I folded my arms and rested my head. I seemed to be falling asleep a much more pleasant and beautiful memory from my childhood, of a summer that I visited with my grandparents at their farm in Virginia drifted into my mind. It was a very clear recollection of what happened so long ago so I started to write everything that was coming to me.

Here is an excerpt of what turned out to be a 50-page novelette.

This is the 4th chapter where I tell of the night my grandfather picked up my mother and me from the train station in Fredericksburg, Va.

4

My grandfather’s forest green Buick was quite the automobile with plush seats that reminded me of our living room couch. It was round like cars were then, with huge chrome grill adorning the front of it. The doors closed with an impressive sound, firm and solid, and inside there was a slight scent of musk from having been parked for long periods of time, I imagined, in reserve for special occasions. Buffed to a high sheen and with the occasional scent possessed by new cars, we made our way through the dark night under a sky as I had never seen it; so filled with stars with practically no space at all between them. “We don’t get to see so many stars back home do we? Isn’t it beautiful?” she said. I turned to the rear window. The entire sky seemed to defy the passage of the vehicle as did the farmhouses, trees, and roadside mailboxes. I began to feel very small and insignificant as I turned back around and closer to my mother.

From the highway the tires ground onto a narrow dirt road. As we rumbled along the air became moist, cool; filled with the many unfamiliar scents of the countryside. The startling awareness of skunk was somewhat softened by the sweet surprise of wild honeysuckle that my mother said grew wildly along the length of a fence. The Buick’s headlamps captured husks growing low on towering cornstalks. The crop had grown out over the sides of the road threatening to swallow the car as well, but only the sound, reduced to a soft rumble was forfeited, as it flumped up and over the bumps in the road and in and out of the ditches. With yellow cones of light showing the way, the night was teeming with fluttering ethereal life forms darting in and out, and the relentless sound of a million crickets. 

Through the darkness we walked along a small path toward the light of the farmhouse to find my Grandmother waiting by the kitchen door. Her smiling eyes were mere crescents above cheeks like apples and her braid was coiled and pinned back. She was shorter than she seemed from the stories my mother had told about her. I remember never having been as completely hugged as I was that day within her full bosom, smelling of the coconut cake that was at the center of the table in the old country kitchen. I felt known and loved in the most reassuring way. And I thought that she must have heard many stories about me as well, and that eventually I would discover somewhere in this house without mantels, the baby-in-pink with-teddy picture that other seldom visited relatives all seemed to possess. After a glass of lemonade and a piece of the coconut cake, I was shuttled off to bed as the elders lingered over a pitcher of tea. I remember that the smokehouse hickory seemed to be everywhere, even in the sheets with the little red roses that I slept on that night.

Two Little Girls by Charon Diane

Available through my publisher, Booklocker. 

  http://booklocker.com/books/4718.html

and:

Barnes & Noble

https://barnesandnoble.com/w/two-little-girls-charon-diane/1022157163?ean=9781609101374

You are amazing!  Create something beautiful today!

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