This day featured more work from home. Smiled at my wife and got the usual big smiles back. My wife seems to be enjoying the “new me” even though she does not realize that I am doing anything different. One thing I have realized is that, with respect to marriage,
it is difficult to brew up an argument or much of a disagreement if you are smiling. Also, a smile can disarm a disagreement or discontent already begun.
Later in the day I paid a visit to my father-in-law and mother-in-law. Talked about stuff in general and smiled as much as possible. My mother-in-law was very friendly towards me – she seems to benefit greatly from having someone smile at her. My mother-in-law has had some difficult things to deal with throughout her life and she can be a real sad-sack at times. Someone giving her a smile and a warm greeting seems to brighten up her day greatly. Perhaps there are a lot of people like that in this world. My father-in-law also seemed to enjoy being around a smiling son-in-law better than one that is not.
Smiled at the kids some more. They responded well, as usual, for the most part. My wife’s friend was over and she was just happy to visit. It was difficult to know if the smiling had an effect.
[...] I have been trying to be a bit more considerate as well. But, as I mentioned before, it is difficult to brew up a disagreement with someone if you are smiling at them and they are smiling [...]