Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

I love that song because it truly is the epitome of “let a smile be your shield.” So many days, I’ve had to fake a smile until it became real laughter. I can still remember learning this lesson from Dear Cousin. She taught me that she smiles even when she didn’t want to and it would improve her mood. The first time I used it for myself was, surprisingly, at the gym. I was on the treadmill (ugh) and there was a mirror right in front of me. Not only did I have to stare at my own sullen face, but I could see the morose faces of the other patrons who looked like they wanted to be anywhere else. I thought to myself, “Why are we doing this if we can’t choose to be happy about it?” I looked at my reflection, cranked up the Beyoncé, and smiled at the beautiful brown-skinned me reflected in the mirror. It was awkward at first. I can admit that. It was awkward that first full run, but I made it to the end with that smile still on my face. I ran my best mile that week. When I came back the next week, I did it again. When I switched to the arc trainer, a machine I adored, I made sure to keep the mirror in view. But I noticed that I no longer needed my reflection. I found myself dancing to the music, and partying on the machine as I engaged more in my workout. Soon, people were coming up to me.

“You just look so happy. Keep it up.”
“How are you partying like that on that machine?'“
“I wish I could be as happy as you working out.”

They weren’t wrong. It had only been a couple of months, but somewhere along the way, I’d shifted my mentality around my workout from something I dreaded to something I looked forward to each day. I was even written up in my gym’s newsletter. All because I chose to smile.