THE POWER OF SMILING
30th August 2021
Unfortunately, most of the time we are all too focused on ourselves. We think about our lives, our problems, our goals… and we do not see what is happening around us.
I am currently living in London and in the past week I have had the time to go out and have a walk after lunch. No sun, but a cloudy sky. No seaside, but many cars. On the sidewalk, I saw a young girl riding her bike. She was focused. Serious.
And alone.
She was riding her bike back and forth. Back and forth.
No siblings. No friends.
The next day she was still there.
Still alone.
I remembered myself at her age. Riding my bike with my sister. We always had a lot of fun riding our bikes together.
I walked towards this young girl, and I smiled at her.
She looked in my direction and did not ignore me. She gave me back one of the biggest smiles ever.
She was still riding her bike. But now she was smiling.
The next day I met her for the third time, and I said to her; ‘Hello again’.
She replied, ‘Hi!’. Always with this big smile.
I am looking forward to meeting her again. And to continue to smile at her. Hoping to give her some joy.
I think smiling at people is very powerful. Smiling helps us feel happier and more positive, but we can give so much to others as well; when we receive a smile, we all feel included and appreciated.
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. And we can all share this gift.
So, next time, try to do it.
Smile.
At an old person.
At the homeless.
At your neighbor.
At your family.
At that young girl, riding her bike all alone…
Unfortunately, most of the time we are all too focused on ourselves. We think about our lives, our problems, our goals… and we do not see what is happening around us.
I am currently living in London and in the past week I have had the time to go out and have a walk after lunch. No sun, but a cloudy sky. No seaside, but many cars. On the sidewalk, I saw a young girl riding her bike. She was focused. Serious.
And alone.
She was riding her bike back and forth. Back and forth.
No siblings. No friends.
The next day she was still there.
Still alone.
I remembered myself at her age. Riding my bike with my sister. We always had a lot of fun riding our bikes together.
I walked towards this young girl, and I smiled at her.
She looked in my direction and did not ignore me. She gave me back one of the biggest smiles ever.
She was still riding her bike. But now she was smiling.
The next day I met her for the third time, and I said to her; ‘Hello again’.
She replied, ‘Hi!’. Always with this big smile.
I am looking forward to meeting her again. And to continue to smile at her. Hoping to give her some joy.
I think smiling at people is very powerful. Smiling helps us feel happier and more positive, but we can give so much to others as well; when we receive a smile, we all feel included and appreciated.
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. And we can all share this gift.
So, next time, try to do it.
Smile.
At an old person.
At the homeless.
At your neighbor.
At your family.
At that young girl, riding her bike all alone…
