(: The world always looks brighter from behind a smile :)

"It's easy to be pleasant when life flows by like a song, but the man worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is trouble, and it always comes with years, and the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through the tears."

At some point in our lives, and for some of us at several points, we all endure some kind of hardship, those things in our lives that turn us upside down and inside out and leave us trampled underfoot. Whether it's an illness, a problem in a relationship, financial issues, death of a loved one, worry over a family member, or any of the other multitude of things that come into our lives bleak and uninvited, they are trials which we must endure and try to make sense of.

Sometimes, the true test may be letting go of the control you think you have of any circumstance and leaving into the hands of someone other than yourself. This may be the most difficult task yet. Control is a powerful trait that we hold. Sometimes just letting go might make the worry or hardship that much easier to tolerate, more manageable. Knowing it's out of your hands and knowing that worrying and fretting over whatever trial or tribulation is currently paralyzing you, just might be the silver lining we all need now and again to know that tomorrow may be a bit brighter.

I suffer greatly with control. My dad always use to say, "You can't control other people and you will die trying." Most of the time I do feel like I am dying trying. Combine that with a bit of anxiety, being overly sensitive the majority of the time and top with pregnancy hormones, let's just say it's not an easy battle to fight. Trying to describe to others around you what you may be going through is like shouting at a brick wall. They can't possibly try to understand, or don't really care to take the time to listen, let alone notice. People are too enveloped in their own world to worry about others. It's a tough pill to swallow but again, we all walk alone in this life. Hasn't been the first time I have stated such, and it most likely won't be the last.

You have to believe that sooner or later, the gray cloud will be lifted, and sunny skies will shine upon you once again. In the meantime, try not to get locked inside yourself. Although we walk alone in this life, being paralyzed or stagnant due to your own self is prisoning and unhealthy. Do things you enjoy, fade out the negative, breathe deep, pray to whomever you find sanctuary in, and SMILE! This last part is important. It will lift your spirits; confuse those around you; and yet, it's proven to be contagious. Spread it around, no matter how many tears you are fighting back in the process.

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile!