20 Smiles

Today I am grateful for a good run yesterday morning and a pleasant day of yard work, a few errands, followed by a movie.

More on the movie tomorrow. On one of my errands, a woman in front of me at the checkout was talking to the cashier and as they wrapped up she said something friendly like "have a good day and keep smiling."  She went on to tell us that her goal is to get twenty people to smile each day. The cashier and I both smiled and I said "Well, you just got two right here."

She walked out and headed into the rest of her day. What a nice goal. What a simple way to make a difference. I finished my other errands, spreading some smiles on the way. Sincere smiles are easy, effective, a win-win. And they are universal.

Regardless of the language we speak, the color of our skin, our religious affiliation, where we live on this planet; we all understand the meaning of and emotions that come with a smile. Our increasingly divided, less tolerant, and more judgmental world needs more smiles. More people feel lonely, misunderstood, isolated, afraid.

Smiles can bring us together, open doors, topple walls. Smiles can unify and bring positive connections. In the United States, we are closing in on a significant election day, after months of ads, challenges, slinging. We grapple with other's hatred and violence that leads to grief and sadness for so many.

A smile may seem insignificant. But it's a start. The smiler and the recipient both feel a little better at least. It's something. It's hope. It's the start of turning a dangerous tide.

Spread some smiles today. Spread some gratefulness. Why not?

Comments