So, I’ve resolved to speak of work rarely and then in only the most general terms. This is because when I fell into talking about work HERE, I lapsed into venting and foaming a bit which bored my gentle readers and only darkened my mood and attitude and encouraged a dour outlook that I then toted back into the fray with me the next day.
Who needs that, eh?
So I share a bit of a good thing (without falling into detail) that has continued on from my day of sparkling the other day (*). I had so much fun with startling the ‘challengers’ at work with my sparkling, gentle, supersmileyhelpfulness that day that I have continued the role and the frownlessness and the *S*P*A*R*K*L*E*.
Normally I am not running into or across all areas of the company in a day, but in sparkle mode, everyone seems to be finding me. It’s almost like I am a sparkling magnet.
Even some of the crazier people who stalk the halls or leap out from behind office machines sniping and snarking and zinging and felling defenseless coworkers with their spewing have been walking by my room or stopping in or even sitting down and smiling back at me and exchanging twinkles.
Indeed, there has been a perceptible atmospheric shift that has been interesting and amusing to see occur.
Smiles are sprouting and being traded back and forth, footsteps are lighter and even a bit dancing in some instances. It’s been the most fascinating thing to observe… and to trace back to a genesis of my having that righteous shower/bath & shampoo! Ha!
I remember 26 or 27 or so years ago someone sharing a theory that when you are ‘down’ and feeling dark, that that is the energy you attract. But when you make the effort to feel good and to feel lighter and you have that kind of aura going out from you that you attract a like good, light, positive energy. In either case, the more you give over the more you draw around you, either dark or light (or I guess, maybe even “blah”).
It is interesting to see this type of thing actually occur in a manifest way. I don’t think of myself as being ‘influential’ or a touchstone or of an impact in the crowd I’m existing in, but I can remember specific instances of huge change that occurred in those environments after I had determined to make a 90* or 180* change in the way I was reacting to bad times around me.
And each time there was a shift in the attitudes around me in an ever-widening circle of ripples. I actually don’t think anyone else consciously connected this to my making a change and turning up the niceness/ kindness/ sparkle wattage.
I only noticed it the first time of the times I mention because a teacher actually came to me and asked me to help out another teacher (who was hugely despised for many earned reasons) by making a conscious effort to reflect a different attitude.
She told me, but I found it hard to believe, that the way I acted to the teacher would have a profound effect on the other students. Me? I asked. I was probably the quietest, shyest kid in the whole school, and a bookworm to boot, and I had strong doubts that many others even knew I was around. But because I loved the teacher who asked me, I agreed to try the experiment, even with doubts.
So, I pretended I liked the witch. I smiled at her. I only had her for homeroom so my time around her was limited. I offered to help with a few things. I spoke gently when addressing her. It was a bit difficult to start with because I have a hard time faking when I am turned off by someone.
The witch was startled to have anyone stop being a grimacer when dealing with her. She visibly softened in how she acted in homeroom and was softer and less shrill of voice. She had a chance to act appreciative for something done for her.
The other kids, probably not even noticing me, began to look up and blink over this new side of the witch. They likewise stopped snarling and snickering behind their hands at her and began showing a modicum of respect.
She responded, then they responded, and she did, and they did…. and I’d like to tell you she became Teacher of the Year, but it didn’t quite happen like that. However, she did finally teach her classes without feeling she was in a pitched battle against people who hated her and she began enjoying teaching and her students began learning and surprisingly enjoying it.
She stayed at the school quite a long time after coming off that year’s probation (for complaints against her). It didn’t cost me anything but biting my tongue and pretending something that I eventually felt for real.
I don’t know why I have to relearn this periodically (maybe that’s the way magic is; it lapses from consciousness until needed again) — I -actively aware- did similar “project a positive feeling that I don’t yet feel but want to” attitudes at a few prior workplaces where times had become awful and unbearable for us ‘little people’. And each time there was some sort of shift to the brighter side of things.
I’m not claiming credit for being the good fairy and being totally responsible for the improved outcomes, but I can’t help but think how powerful a thing it is to choose positivity and to put it up on the marquee with bright lights and just live it, whether you feel it at first or not. Even we ‘little people’ can affect the world around us.
And it usually takes a little while of sparkling, scintillating, day-glo-ing, and flashing, depending on the depth of the sludge in which I trudge. But if nothing else, I get to feel the heady happiness of “goodness” if just for that while.
Here — have a sparkle or two on me, and spread it around 
Let me know how it works for you I’ll let you know how long I can maintain it where I am.
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a little aside/p.s. — I think some of “my MS” symptoms are slipping back in. I’ve started noticing issues with typing and the differing weaknesses of the fingers tapping keys. Just an observation.
Thank you for leaving me your thoughts!