Monday, January 7, 2008


Today I got my wrist slapped at work. Yep. For doing something I thought would make everyone smile on a gray and dreary Monday morning. I get my daily thought, reminder, call it what you will from http://www.bighappybuddha.com/. I love it. Some days they are more profound than my somewhat feeble mind can embrace but mostly they are thought provoking and joyful. Friday's was about hope and how hope is what makes a bad day bearable. Hope that tomorrow will be better. Well, today's was simple. "Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful". A simple thought, right? Not preachy? No promises of hellfire if you don't believe what I believe? I sent it out to all users in our building with a comment about how I don't usually do this but we should all remember that a smile can change someone's day for the better. Now, remember I work in a mental health center. My supervisor told me that she was told by "the administration" to tell me not to do that ever again. I know it's no big deal but it was a little demoralizing. I heard from a surprising number of people who were happy I sent it and said 'thank you for making me smile'.
So enjoy this photo of Quaker Bridge Road. It makes me smile and always makes me think of Tolkien's poem The Road Goes Ever, Ever On
The road goes ever ever on,
down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone
and I must follow it if I can.
Pursuing it with eager feet
until it joins some larger way.
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Coming soon: Yarn porn. The most beautiful entry yet from Art Walk Sock Yarn Club.

30 comments:

amy said...

Was it simply because it came from a site with Buddha in the title? If you'd just copied and pasted, would "administration" have been upset? I'd feel the same way, Donna. I hate wrist slaps; they make me feel small and like a second grader, being threatened with the principal--that queasy-in-the-stomach feeling.

I hope tomorrow is better for you, and you are absolutely right: a smile, especially an unexpected one, can turn a day around.

Rose Red said...

People are strange, aren't they. At least you probably made more people smile than not.

Bezzie said...

Yeah that's kind of lame. I can see why they'd want to kibosh mass-employee non-work related emailings, but to come down on you after your first one? That seems a little slap happy.
They must not smile enough. ;-)

Kate said...

The road goes ever, ever on
Over rock and under tree
By caves where never sun has shone
By streams that never find the sea
Over snow by winter sown
And through the merry flowers of June
Over rock and over stone
And under mountains in the moon.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely would have smiled and I think your supervisor needs a mental health day

teabird said...

I'm smiling now, and I think your administration needs to take a deep -- cleansing -- breath.
For heaven's sake.
I love that Tolkien song - thank you for posting the lyric (and thank Kate for more lyric) -

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

Alwen said...

Ah, the irony. Or whatever it is. At least we can see that the little weather gods have a sense of humor.

TinkingBell said...

Bah humbug to all administrations everywhere! A smile costs nothing - and from a vanity point of view it takes lots less muscles to smile than - what was that other thing again - oh yes, administrate!

Michele said...

i'm so sorry that happened to you.

i love the words from Tolkien that you've posted. they make me smile. a lot.

hope you have a better tomorrow. oh and i like your words on hope too.

Sheepish Annie said...

Sheesh! Heaven forbid we try to make a few people happy. Or smile. That would be so very wrong in a mental health setting. Only misery will work.

Thanks for sharing some of the happy with us, anyway. We appreciate it!

Anonymous said...

Harsh! I know I've worked in places where blanket emails are forbidden if they don't have work content, so maybe that's it? Is there a culture of sending non-work related emails being forbidden or is it allowed and this is an instance where teh administration got a bit touchy?

SwissKnits! said...

OMGoodness... what a waste of time for them to reprimand you!
Shame on them! Personally, I could see HR thinking "Do I *really* have to give her a wrist-slap? she was only giving people a reason to smile" But they gotta do what 'the man' says...

Mistrmi said...

Are you kidding me? Surely, you're kidding me. . .

Amy Lane said...

Augh! I hate that! I once sent out an e-mail that pretty much quieted what had been a STAFF WIDE E-RIOT, and because it got forwarded to administration, I got written up. I got ten letters of 'thanks' for that good job--I hate politics, buraucrats and dirty-rotten-stinking-rats. I love that poem from J.R.R. Tolkien by the way... "And wither then, I can not say..." so full of possibilities and January melancholy...

MadMad said...

Smile on, sister!

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