Hidden Smiles Inc. as a business consists of a small group of people who have found their niche in life as gardeners, groundskeepers and craftsmen attempting to contribute to the visual beauty of the world that surrounds us. We have found that this is what we love to do. When a person finds that their work and their play are one and the same, they are truly fortunate…we are fortunate.
Hidden Smiles Inc. as a philosophy or way of life consists of focusing on the many things in life that make us smile; the not so obvious things. Many times I have heard, “That’s an interesting name. How did you come up with it? What does it mean?” Well, how I came up with it is a very personal story and has specific meaning, but nothing that I will talk about here.
What it means is difficult to say because it means something different to each of us and ultimately, it means many things to each of us. When we allow ourselves to look inside, we may find out what those things really are for us.
These are some, there are so many, of the ways that my soul finds an opportunity to smile and appreciate the magnificence of the world around me:
I plant tulip, daffodil, crocus and other bulbs in the fall in many gardens. I see these gardens during the winter underneath a blanket of snow and know that deep in the soil those bulbs are working their magic to grow and in the spring they will produce beautiful colors and contrasts for all to see…and I smile.
I see a family dog lick a young boy/girl’s face and hear the child laugh and know that there is a special bond between the two, I think back…and I smile.
I watch an old man and an old woman struggle to open a beach chair or lay out a beach blanket in the wind. It is obvious they have done this many times before together. I listen to their nonverbal communication – sometimes involving an argument – and I smile.
The truth is that there is beauty and wonder and miracles all around us every moment of our lives, but we usually don’t allow ourselves the freedom of thought to see things from different points of view. Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Trust me, miracles are everywhere if we allow ourselves to see them. I contend that life is more magical if we choose to believe this, and Magical is better than not.
I say, Happiness is a choice you make. At any instant you can choose to be happy or not. It is all up to you. If you find your life to be a drudgery, then you need to change the way you look at the things in your life that bring you down, and those things will change. I can guarantee it.
I also say, Happiness is metaphysical (explanation found in the ‘Pursuit’ section), is for everyone and is pretty easy to come by if you believe.
My Disclaimer: I have no formal training as a life coach, and profess to know nothing special. I do have a Philosophy degree with a concentration on religions, but means next to nothing in the grand scheme of things. My ways of looking at the world have created a peaceful life for me and in the end, if that is all I end up with, I think will have won. If my ways can help you live a more peaceful life, then I will be honored in silence.
Thank you for indulging my ’crazy train’ of thought…Peace. Ron Bergeron