بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
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Hallo, Lieblings!
Let's start this post by congratulating my fellow Muslims who are celebrating Ramadan! May Allah SWT filled our hearts with a bundle of joy and harmony, shower us with loads of peace and prosperity, and grant us relief in this time of uncertainty during this blessed month. 💖
Let's start with the fact that something peculiar happened to me a week before Ramadan started.
I hope you are not clickbait-ed with what I wrote as the title of this post because dude, it really happened. For those who aren't used to the word 'sariawan', it literally means ulcer. You know, that teeny-tiny wound inside your mouth. Oftentimes develop when you accidentally bite your tongue, when you lack essential vitamins, or even when you are simply stressed out and lacking sleep.
Judging by its size, this teeny tiny little wound is really small... but don't get me started talking about the pain. Man, it is painful. Very. Especially when it caught inflammation and turned white. I wonder what is even more painful, being heartbroken or getting 3 ulcers all at once. But when you think about the consequences of both wound types they do actually have similar consequences; uncomfortable experience when you are eating (and lack of appetite), drinking and even talking. They just... hurt differently. 😀
(Ok, that one's so cringy, I laughed)
Quick info for those who might feel alienated hearing the word 'Ramadan', here's a brief explanation to y'all.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims all around the world observe it as a month of fasting, reflection, and prayer. It commemorates the first revelation of the Prophet Muhammad SAW (a.k.a. The Qur'an). Ramadan lasts for 29 to 30 days depending on the year and the holiday of Eid al Fitr marks the end of the month. During the whole month of Ramadan, Muslims (that are capable of practicing) are obliged to fast on a daily basis from sunrise to sunset. Sawm, The Arabic word for fasting means “to refrain” not only from food, drink, but also nasty actions, thoughts, and words.
So, I hope you guys had a little bit of an idea that as a Muslim I'm not allowed to even take a bite of a cookie and even drink a sip of dalgona coffee during the day in Ramadan. That's why folks I was actually planning to eat so many desserts as possible and enjoy the last minute blessing of my homemade brownies to pile up fat under my skin before Ramadan so that I wouldn't die in hunger.
DISCLAIMER: Pardon the exaggeration haha. And no, you wouldn't die by intermittent fasting! In contrary to what people may think, fasting is actually good for our health. (read more: Live Science | Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science | Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting)
Now going back to the ulcer thing. As you could easily guess, I got an ulcer. A big and white one. On the upper right side of my lip. When I closed my mouth, this little nasty thing hits the literal checkpoint. My canine tooth or the fang (re: gigi taring). Of all the areas in my mouth, I often question it for choosing this certain spot.
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That is the least pain I want to feel in this world, really.
And a week before Ramadan? Really, ulcer?
I was devastated, I couldn't even eat my favorite spaghetti carbonara peacefully or even drink my beloved homemade boba 😭
But in every oddity, there is always marvel and things get a little bit more interesting from here. As I couldn't really open my mouth all the time (how do you expect me to?!), to avoid the 'curse of the fang' I have no other option than closing it. But flexing the muscle at the side of my right mouth upward, and you know it.
I curved a smile.
Yes, you got it right, folks. I was forced by this nasty thing to smile for literally 24/7. Before this incident, I wasn't actually the full-of-smile type of a person. I'd rather say my frown is like my crown, it's there all along (yes you heard it HAHA). I couldn't recall the time when my sister ever compliments me for smiling as I was really a grumpy ball back home.
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I mean, why should I smile even when nobody's watching. People will think I'm mad or might even think that my head hit the wall or something. It sounds cringy and kind of an exaggeration, however, this ulcer is actually one of the turning points in my life. How?
I read articles about the benefits of smiling (and I think you ever did too, even only once) but never really benefit from it because I don't really like to smile. Except for photos. And if I'm really happy. And faking smiles, oooops. In a nutshell, I wasn't actually used to smile on a daily basis without any reason. 🙅
But. This. Nasty. Ulcer. Changed. Everything!!!
However, as days go by, I kind of realize something. Every time I looked at myself in the mirror every morning, a reflection of the pretty-smiling me stared back. Though I wasn't certainly happy with anything, smiling brightens my mood and starts the day more energized. Every time I'm trying to solve some ridiculously hard Sudoku game -- while smiling ofc -- makes me feel a little lighter. Even when I'm about to sleep, I smile, and those nights may be the nights when my head actually feels relaxed.
I think that week was the happiest week of my life not because I won a BTS concert tickets giveaway and rode the Ferrari, but simply because I smiled a lot. And maybe, you don't even need those things to be happy and make others happy 😊 Days after the whole ulcer thing had actually affected my life in many ways. I even still smiling more on a daily basis up until today. This grumpy ball is turning into a sunbeam!
I was actually asking a friend of mine, Hasna, how to get rid of my chubby chin. And God had bizarre ways of actually giving me solutions plus the bonuses. My mind was actually blown up even more after I experienced such dramatic tragedy -- which turns out to be a blessing in disguise -- and re-reading the benefit of smiling.
#1 Smile combats depression
Researchers have found that preventing people from frowning and having them demonstrate happy feelings can actually lessen symptoms of depression.#2 Grin and Bear it!
This expression actually means to smile even though you are not happy. Researchers found that when people's faces were manipulated into smiles, they actually showed impressive movements in their moods and well-being, such as lower rates of stress. 😉#3 Reduce blood pressure
Smiling helps you to relax, consequently, your blood pressure will naturally decrease. Even just five minutes of smiling off and on while thinking of a pleasant memory can eliminate stress and help your blood pressure drop. When recovering from a stressful situation, study participants who were smiling had lower heart rates than those with a neutral facial expression.#4 Smiling strengthens you immune system
One study found that hospitalized children who were visited by story-tellers and puppeteers that had made them smile and laugh had higher white blood cell counts than those children who weren't visited. It also revives your body's energy levels! 💪#5 Smiling releases Endorphins
Endorphins are natural mood-boosters chemicals that could help you manage stress and anxiety. They are essentially a sugar rush for your brain, but without any terrifying after-effects like grumpiness and lethargy. Surprisingly, smiling can trigger the release of this hormone equivalent to when you're working out, resulting in what is known as a runner's high. Plus, Endorphins act as natural painkillers, so if you're experiencing any discomfort, a quick smile can help you relax and feel better.#6 Smiling makes you look younger
Studies have shown that on average when you smile, you can actually look about 3 years younger. Smiling can naturally lift your face and can fend off any frown lines you may get.
Well, well, well. To be honest, I don't know whether to believe in every single point, but I think no harm is actually being made if you smile more. Except for certain circumstances, like when the boss is in full anger, or when you are being scolded by your parents, or even when your friend is telling you a teary story. You would actually risk a higher level of stress. Please, just, don't smile 😂
After all, I'm a survivor of this unidentified blessing, covering up as a tragedy. And please, though smile releases Endorphins and increases immunity and bla bla bla, you still have to move that ass and keep moving! Sweat it out!
In this time of uncertainty, I understand that we are too, forced to adapt to the new normal and might feel exhausted from doing the same routine, in the same place all over again. Especially for my fellow Muslims. But when you are tired, remember just by smiling you are already donating good deeds into your bank account of The Hereafter. Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, Abdullaah ibn Haarith said, "I never came across a person as much as Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He PBUH regarded smiling to a brother as an act of charity."
I really hope that you guys could actually take some takeaways and wished that this weird experience of mine could benefit you in many unique ways possible. Now, take a moment to smile! Take a moment to reminisce how delicious the food your mother made for iftar or even at your father's lame jokes. Let's spread this contagious act of positivity rather than mourning over things we couldn't control.
Cheers on the great jobs and accomplishments you have done during the quarantine up until today! Might not be the most productive phase of life, but great job, for the odds you've already fought. We are human anyway, flaws and imperfections are always part of our game. Oh and in case anyone hasn't told you today, I love your smile. It suits you. 😊
And lastly, whO doesn't lOve alpaca in sunglasses? lol.
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Love and light,
Sintya💖
"So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it." [Qur'an Surah Az-Zalzalah verse 7-8]
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