I recently read a quote by the fantabulous Audrey Hepburn:
“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”
What wonderful musings. And it got me thinking, what do I believe in? My mind went straight to friends, family, work, achievements... Positives, negatives, goals.... But then I stopped thinking, cleared my mind, ate a large Hershey's Cookies 'n' Crème bar and realised what I actually believe in is how the taste and the smell of chocolate makes everything seem that much better. As I breathed in the scent, I felt the stress of the day just somehow lift.
We all have hopes and dreams. We all wish for the big things, but it's the small everyday thoughts, actions and gestures that actually help us to have a better day. I remember my Nan always telling me to smile. To smile at people I walk past. That smiling is such a simple gesture which has the power to make someone's day, and she was right. If you walk outside and smile at ten people, even if just one person smiles back, you know you've had an impact on that person's day. So I believe that smiles make the world a better place.
And if smiling can have such an impact, imagine the impact laughing can have. It's true, laughing can be contagious. You just can't help but laugh along, or at least smile back if you find someone else laughing. Even if you're in pain, if someone makes you laugh, somehow it hurts just that little bit less. So I believe that laughter really is the best medicine.
But what about the opposite of smiles and laughter? Dealing with sadness, stress and anxiety requires a gentler touch. If your stomach is feeling unsettled, your mind is racing, lethargy is settling in or your body aches, just one small action - one deep breath - can start the healing process. Then taking another. And another. I believe in taking deep breaths and holding my head high, especially when my stomach is in knots.
Which leads us onto self care. Manicures, facials, hair appointments, a round of golf... all great ways to treat yourself, but simple actions - a hot bubble bath in candlelight, lie-ins on a Sunday, snuggling up on the sofa under a heated blanket - are just as effective. And my personal favourite, cuddles with my fur baby. So, I believe in warm blankets and puppy hugs as the most effective self-care.
There we have it! Mixing in my favourite colour (just like Audrey), I can now say the things I believe in are...
"I believe in rose gold. I believe in the taste and the smell of chocolate to make everything seem that much better. I believe that smiles make the world a better place. I believe laughter really is the best medicine. I believe in taking deep breaths and holding my head high when my stomach is in knots, and I believe in warm blankets and puppy hugs as the most effective self-care."
