Acting Cheerfully Is Not A Choice

Acting Cheerfully Is Not A Choice

Shammai said, “Receive all people with a cheerful expression.”  Pirke Avot 1:15

I like this one.  Especially on days like today.  First thing in the morning, I got a parking ticket because I forgot to put a quarter in the meter.  Leaving work tonight, I misplaced my wallet.  And you know what, I realize it’s not my wife’s fault, or my son’s fault, or my daughter’s fault - THEY are not the cause of my crappy bookend of a day (the rest of the day was quite good, actually).  

Receive all people with a cheerful expression - not that you should by cloyingly sweet all the time.  Simply remember - people would rather be around someone in a good mood, than someone in a bad mood.  That seems incredibly simple - but oh so hard to remember. As Telushkin says, “The fact that you are feeling unhappy does not entitle you to inflict your mood upon others.”  Perhaps easier said than done, but important to remember, nonetheless.