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There are times when your joy produces a smile. There are also times when a smile causes relaxation, calm, and joy. I do not wait until there is joy in me to smile; joy will come later. Sometimes when I am alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else.

Being compassionate to yourself is a very important practice. When you are tired, angry, or in despair, you should know how to go back to yourself and take care of your tiredness, your anger, and your despair. That is why we practice smiling, mindful walking and breathing, and mindful eating.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, in “Be Free Where You Are”.

" Mendicants, those sentient beings who do good things in the morning by way of body, speech, and mind have a good morning.

Those sentient beings who do good things at midday by way of body, speech, and mind have a good midday.

Those sentient beings who do good things in the evening by way of body, speech, and mind have a good evening.

A good star, a good fortune,

a good dawn, a good rising,

a good moment, a good hour:

these come with good gifts to spiritual practitioners.

Worthy deeds of body,

verbal worthy deeds,

worthy deeds of mind,

worthy resolutions:

when your deeds have been worthy,

you get worthy benefits.

Those happy with these benefits

flourish in the Buddha’s teaching.

May you and all your relatives

1. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

2. What others think of you is none of your business.

3. Time heals almost everything; give it time.

4. Don`t compare your life to others`, and don`t judge them. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

5. Stop thinking too much; it`s alright not to know the answers. They will come to you when you least expect it.

6. No-one is in charge of your happiness, except you.

7. Smile. You don`t own all the problems in the world.