Golden wrapper of truth

It's true - I have a weakness for dark chocolate and the little silly messages/quotes that are on the backs of the gold wrappers that often contain it......

Sometimes it's a load of junk, but today the first piece I opened made me stop:

"Let your light shine... the world is watching"

Echo echo echo. I heard someone tell me this very same thing recently when I had a conversation about blending in here in Czech Republic. This person told me that no matter how good my Czech gets or how much I adapt to Czech customs/styles/etc, people still notice me and they are watching me....

And truth be told - he was right. Two different days I had a student come up to me and point to her smile and say "happy happy. Ellen, you are happy" and the vice principal (who's never spoken a word to me before) even stopped me and laughed, saying "Are you happy? You look happy."

Now before you start thinking "Wow, Ellen. Good for you" I have to be honest: not every grin means I'm happy :-P lol. Sometimes I smile because I'm nervous or up-to-no-good or because it's automatic. But it just goes to show - people do notice you - whether you realize it or not... or whether you want them to or not... and it's important that we not only put our best foot forward (so to speak), but live authentically too.

I'm not saying we have to smile all the time (I think if we did, people might think we have mental problems haha). No, but I do think we should strive to encourage others - not just through words, but actions and facial expressions and everything else we have within our reach. It's crazy how contagious moods or emotions or feelings can become. (I don't know if I'm making any sense here at all, but maybe you know what I mean?)

I'm just sayin.... let your light shine, friends, in whatever way you know how... or whatever that looks like for you. It makes a difference, and we all need it (I think).

Love,
El