Smile! It Gives Your Face Something to Do!

Smile!  It Gives Your Face Something to Do! 

I absolutely, with no doubt whatsoever, love people who can always find a reason to smile!  People who smile just light up the world!  Don’t cha think?  How much time does it take to smile at the people you pass on the street or in the store?  Does it really take that long to smile at that person with the big frown, the one that you can see isn’t having a great day?  Not long, I’m sure.  Just that one little smile can go a very long way.  Doesn’t it make you feel good when some stranger you’ve never seen before gives you a big ‘ole smile?  Conversely, a big smile makes everything brighter and you think, “Oh, they seem so nice!”  As Steve Maraboli said, “It only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet to someone that needs it, it can last a lifetime.”  I believe that no truer words have ever been spoken! 

One weekend, my family and I were down in Hollywood at the El Capitan Theater to see a movie.  My brother, sisters, and I were all excited to see the film; we couldn’t wait to eat the goodies from the snack bar.  You see, we are especially fond of the buttered popcorn and the sodas; we don’t get those at home!  Well, we were all out front of the theatre waiting to go inside and take our seats; we weren’t really paying attention to much, except for ourselves, just kind of goofing around.  The sidewalks were full of people wandering around looking into the shops before the movie, trying to find that “special” souvenir.  Everyone seemed to be involved in their own personal dramas, with little thought of much else.   

I was feeling especially happy; but then, all of the sudden, I had an odd sensation.  I felt a sadness as I looked up and into the face of an old man.  He was shuffling down the sidewalk; he appeared to have something wrong with his foot, because he was limping.  He carried a bag with all kinds of things poking out; it looked like he had a sleeping bag, too.  His clothes were dirty and ragged and the expression on his face looked downcast and melancholy.  As I looked around me, it appeared that the other people that saw him either were looking away, or kept their eyes down at the ground.  No one seemed to want to look at him.  I remember having a sick feeling inside my tummy, thinking how I would feel if no one wanted to look at me.  I know I would feel lonely, I can tell you that!

Well, I decided right there and then; I shouldn’t, I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, ignore him like everyone else.  As I walked by him, I looked right up into his eyes, smiled my best smile, and gave him a bright, joyful, hello!  Well, can you guess what happened?  I could actually see his eyes light up and he returned to me a magnificent smile, it lit up his face.  It made me feel all warm inside because I knew, absolutely and positively, that I had made a difference in someone else’s life! 

Our world would be a much more pleasant place if people would show those teeth of theirs a little more often!  So, when you have nothing better to do, remember to smile, because “it gives your face something to do.”  My grandma had a picture on the wall in her bedroom that said this and it made me smile when I was little.  She gave it to me and now it hangs in my room.  Always remember, until you have that really dreadful day, you will never really know what a huge impact just one big, blinding smile can make!  Make that difference today!