You Might As Well Smile

Glen Campbell Smile

The grief, loneliness, worry, stress and fatigue can be overwhelming and absolutely devastating when losing a parent or spouse to dementia. If you’re not careful and self-aware, you can find yourself spiraling down into the dismal abyss of despair and depression. How do you keep this from happening? You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of them!

I have found that something as simple as choosing to smile when I’m sad can boost my mood.

Glenn Campbell and Jimmy Webb Reunion Album, smile, smilingYou’ve heard it said that attitude is everything. When I’m smiling it makes people want to be around me and that keeps me from becoming isolated. When I smile it changes the way I relate to others and the way others relate to me, including the one I’m caring for.

You can’t cure or slow this disease so you might as well smile. Glen recorded “You Might As Well Smile” on his “Reunion” album. This song, written by Glen’s lifetime friend and collaborator Jimmy Webb, has become my theme song as a caregiver! Jimmy graciously dedicated this song to me at a tribute concert for Glen’s 80th birthday at the Nashville City Winery in April. Thank you Jimmy!

 

You’re still the best person
I ever knew
There were a thousand little things that I was always
Just about to say to you
But now the time, it grows shorter for the speeches
Just let me leave you with the line
Might help you pass the time, sometimes

You might as well smile
Ain’t no tears gonna drown the rain
Keeps on falling
You might as well smile
Ain’t no pain gonna change what still remains
You might as well regain babe
Your lost serenity, serenity
And shine it on me
Shine it on me

I remember times when you held me
You’d freeze my spine
We were looking in the mirror at the time
I got confused and I thought your eyes were mine
But now the time, it grows shorter for the secrets
Just let me leave you with some truth
Might help you hold onto your youth

You might as well smile
Ain’t no tears gonna drown the rain
Keeps on falling
You might as well smile
Ain’t no pain gonna change what still remains
You might as well maintain, babe
Protect your sanity, your sanity
And shine it on me
Shine it on me