Did you know one smile can stimulate the brain as much as 2,000 chocolate bars? Indeed, many studies show that smiling and laughter improve our health, relationships, productivity, and possibly extend our lives. Even though World Smile Day was last week, let me help you get someone to smile any day. Share one of the following stories from PASS ME YOUR SHOES: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith.
When I immigrated to America from New Zealand, I wondered if we spoke the same language. Despite using the same words, people often misunderstood:
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- When I said, “ushers use a torch in a theater” people imagined a flaming fire instead of a flashlight.
- When I asked Bobby if he wanted cotton to tie the roast he was stuffing, he could not see how cotton would be of any use and asked instead for thread.
- When asking for a biscuit, I got what looked like a bun and tasted like a scone. I should have asked for a cookie.
Six months after starting a new job, a kindergarten height toilet suddenly appeared in the bathroom. I was transported into the fantasy land of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: one for papa bear (wheelchair height), one for mama bear (regular height), and one for baby bear (my height). I had to ask, What did the company think I’d been doing all this time when I needed to use the bathroom?
At a family Christmas gathering it was too late to go tree shopping so my brother and brother-in-law foraged for a tree on a dark country road. They returned with a beauty that impressed everyone. Well, at least Dad enjoyed it until he went to golf. His grief was the inspiration for our Scruples game addendum question: You are a member of a golf club. Your son chopped down a prized tree at the 18th hole. Do you tell that the tree is in your living room?
And one more story not in the book.
Five years after Robert narrowly missed a head-on collision on our honeymoon, he dared to drive in New Zealand again. Instead of his wife yelling “PULL LEFT, PULL LEFT,” upon arrival at his destination a stranger yelled, “THE PIGS, THE PIGS.” Robert was mystified, what pigs? So, the lady showed him the clothes “pegs” placed on the car roof when the clothes were taken off the clothes line. To Robert’s American ear, pegs sounded like pigs. Can you imagine how slowly Robert was driving for those clothes pins to still be on the roof?
“So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life.” Ecclesiastes 8:15a (New Living Testament).
Read the five star customer reviews at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble and order your copy of Pass Me Your Shoes today. For more information, go to my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/
Contest (open from October 12-26 midnight)
Start having fun by entering this week’s contest to win a $25 digital Amazon Gift Card. In 100 words or less, share a funny story or photo with a caption about dwarfism or disability. The story or photo should be about yourself or a family member. Post your story or captioned photo as a comment on my October 12th One Smile Worth 2,000 Chocolate Bars blog post at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog/. All submissions will be entered into a drawing. Subscribe to my blog for a second entry into the drawing. I will announce the winner as a comment on this post on or about October 26th and on my Facebook Author page at https://www.facebook.com/MuirVanEttenTrilogy.
4 replies on “One Smile Worth 2,000 Chocolate Bars”
As always, love reading your blog. Miss seeing you but thankful to be here w my sister. God bless, my friend.
Thanks Sherri. So good that you can be there to help your sister and are able to share some smiles and laughter together.
Giving up 2000 chocolate bars is a big ask for a chocoholic but your words make me smile so goodbye chocolate!!! Loving your blogs – can’t wait to read the whole book when it arrives.
Trust me, the book is in the mail.