Giving The Gift Of A Smile
Every morning I wake up with the feeling that I am being watched, and I open my eyes to see one of our little five-pound dogs sitting motionless in front of me, staring at my face. If I don’t smile, she doesn’t change her position, but the minute I smile… and I always do, because she is just so incredibly cute… her tail starts wagging furiously and she’s all over me in a frenzy of happiness.
Think about it. To everyone, all over the world, a smile is the universal expression of friendliness and goodwill, and even a tiny baby recognizes that a smile is a happy thing. Smiling is good for you… it lowers your blood pressure, helps your immune system to work better, and releases natural pain killers, endorphins, and serotonin. There is no downside to a genuine, warm smile, and for that grumpy or harried someone who is having a really bad day, your friendly smile can be a real mood changer. Try giving the gift of a smile… and giving it freely throughout your day. You may be surprised at what a difference a smile can make!
Filed Under Personal
Comments
Comment by Daria:
Love this! Love your blog too!! Thanx.
Comment by Larry W:
You make a good point. A smile is so simple but it can be so powerful. How much better off would we all be if everyone tried to smile a little more as they go through their day? Really like the blog, btw.
Comment by robin:
“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
-Joseph Addison
“With mirth and laughter
Let old wrinkles come.”
-William Shakespeare
“If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.”
-Andy Rooney
Hope these make you smile…
Comment by Jack:
This reminds me of a somewhat unrelated story. I remember waking up next to my old dog when I was still living with my parents. We were both groggy and not exactly ready to get out of bed. I looked at him, and he looked back. I yawned. HE THEN yawned. The really funny thing is that I THEN felt compelled to yawn. I guess yawning, even across species, is contagious. The smiles that went back and forth that morning were even more so.
J
http://adventuresinvoluntarysimplicity.blogspot.com/
Comment by Terrye:
My Mom died when I was 15 and had been bedfast for the last 5 years of her life. When I was going through her things a few weeks after the funeral I found, in her billfold, a little poem she had cut out of a magazine. It was well worn so I assume she had pulled it out and read it often.
They might not need me, but they might.
I’ll let my smile be just in sight.
A smile as small as mine might be
Exactly their necessity.
I cant tell you how much I missed that smile.
Comment by Shirley:
Thank you for sharing your story and this poem. Your Mom must have been a very special lady.
Comment by Terrye:
She was a great lady, and thanks for the kind note, Shirley. For this site I should have chosen a funny story but this was the story that came to mind.
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