Smile!
It never fails to surprise me how many people seem anti-smile.
They get nervous around even the smallest hint of a grin.
Yesterday evening, I enjoyed a beautiful stroll in the countryside - and walked past three different individuals, passing each other along narrow, shrubby lanes.
I made a purposeful attempt to smile at each of these individuals. Social norm, and all that.
Only one smiled backed.
Another kept his head down, despite our very obvious proximity. The other looked at me, shocked - as though my neck were wearing two heads that eve.
But that's other people.
I know you're not forgetting to smile...
Right?
In PS. I Love You, H. Jackson Brown Jr wrote:
"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day."
In The Confidence Course, Walter Anderson wrote:
"Have you ever noticed how easily puppies make human friends? Yet all they do is wag their tails and fall over."
And W.C.Fields once humorously wrote:
"Start every day with a smile and get it over with."
Smile - and take your pick! 
Labels: inspiration, self-development
by Karl
10:23 AM
5 Comments:
This one is for you Karl - because you ALWAYS make me smile! :-D
By
Angel4Earth, at
11:12 AM
This is soooo true!!!! I'm always smiling at people throughout the day and I've had some bizarre experiences. It's sad how many people just seem to come out of their skin because they're so uncomfortable smiling or even looking at a stranger. Smiling at one another gives us a feeling of connectedness... and it just feels good. (And usually we all look better smiling :)
I'm excited that more people will be on this 'smiling quest' with me!!!
By
Anonymous, at
4:15 PM
I agree with Karl!! It's so unfortunate to look at someone and smile and (a) they act like they don't see you, they just stare right through you or (b) you do get a smile back. It's sad because people are just so "stuck in their negative, dark quagmire" sometimes I want to just slap them across the face and scream "WAKEUP!" Barb
By
Anonymous, at
11:46 PM
Hey Karl,
Good one!! I wonder if it might be more of a British thing, the people not smiling? Because I smile at people all the time, like you mentioned (they might think I'm nuts, but I like to see how many people I can get to smile when I run into strangers, whatever), and I would say that appx. 98% of people over here (West Coast of the USA) will smile back. But you've got me thinking, and now I'm going to start watching......
Thanks for a great reminder! Like a previous poster said, you always make me smile!
By
Sally, at
4:23 AM
Hey Karl
you are not alone, I'm a smile monster too, can't help it, it's natural, and yep people often just look at you aghast, or away, and some hesitantly return it. Just occasionally, as today when out on a morning cycle a lovely lady gave me a big beam first: an unexpected gift!
My boyfriend is a big smiler too, so together we freak the world out by being far too happy for no apparent reason that others can understand! Me thinks you would...
So...have a big smile back today
cheers
Kerry-ann
By
Anonymous, at
11:48 AM
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