Monday Mindset 12/4

Smile

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who is incapable of smiling? Many times it is hostility coming from them, forcing their face to stay stoic while you share a story or a joy with them. It's manipulation to undermine your joy. I experienced this with someone I thought was a decades-long friend. I got one word responses of "oh" and "hmm" to anything I said. Guess who is out of my life now?

Conversely, what a pleasure it is to share a smile with someone. Often when I am shopping or walking about I will catch someone's eye and just smile. I live in a very friendly city, known to be welcoming, so this is not odd. But each time a random act of smiling occurs, I see how it makes both of us happier. A simple, sincere act randomly brightens the day.

I was exiting the DC Metro near my office one morning. Just another day and I was probably thinking about my day, in my own world. A random man approached me and said "I just have to share this with someone. I just got my paper published...." He was so happy and so proud of himself. I was also happy for him and congratulated him. Truly happy for him and honored that he felt comfortable to share that with me. It was a wonderful, random event that I remember years later. We shared a handshake and a smile and both went about our days the better for it.

Smiling. A simple act that spreads joy. Last line of the Nat King Cole lyric "You'll see the sun come shining through for you".