There are many days in my week when I don’t feel like smiling. I live in a state of perpetual exhaustion with two small children under my care 24/7. One of this week’s prompts included quotes about smiles, and that made me think, “What other quotes about smiles are there? A quick Google search led me to the one above, attributed to William Arthur Ward.
It instantly reminded me of the smiles my children get when their dad plays with them and reads to them. It reminded me of my son chasing after his dad as his dad gets ready for work in the morning, and how his dad smiles at him. It reminded me of the hugs he gives our daughter when he comes home, and when they hug good night.
Sometimes when I watch them all interact, it’s a nice reminder that my kids’ dad loves them so much more than my own dad loved me, and I feel like my kids are lucky to have him.
But I can say from experience that most of the time, when I have greeted someone and smiled, without expecting anything in return, that person’s face lit up with a smile, too.
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In a world where smiling is often seen suspiciously—like you’re up to no good—maybe we could take a lesson from this quote, and “normalize smiling.” Sure, there is a lot wrong with the world, but there are also great things we might be missing if we only see what’s flawed.
There have been many a days in my life when I felt down, and happened upon a stranger on the street who said, “Hello,” and smiled at me in passing. That small acknowledgment of my presence, that tiny gesture of kindness, has turned around many a bad day. There have also been days when I’ve been that smiling stranger.
We never know exactly what’s going on for someone, what things they might be struggling with. We also never know how our smiles will be received. But I can say from experience that most of the time, when I have greeted someone and smiled, without expecting anything in return, that person’s face lit up with a smile, too.
I often forget now to be kind. I’m just too exhausted, and my patience is in short supply, so I won’t pretend I have all the answers for you. I don’t
Instead, I’ll tell you that sometimes, when we’re down and out—as I often feel these days—a freely given smile can make a world of difference.
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This article was submitted in response the following Call for Submissions—What Exactly Does a Smile Mean?
Juana is the creator of The Apple Orchard, a Facebook Group that educates and supports parents interested in energy healing.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock