When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?
I love that question!
Smiling at other people is one of my hobbies. I love to smile at people. I smile at shoppers and baggers at the Commisary. I smile at kids at the school. I smile at the librarian and the gate guards and strangers on the street. If I miss my chance to smile at someone I feel kind of bad.
Early in the morning I go running. It's usually just me out there on the road, but sometimes I pass soldiers out for a run. I always smile and say "good morning." Most people say hello back, but sometimes I get ignored. After a few mornings of getting ignored I started to wonder if I was the only person out there who smiles. So I did a little experiment.
I decided not to smile.
One morning I passed people and didn't even really look at them. There is a moment when you get close to someone where you have to choose to look at them and smile or just look away. I looked away.
and no one noticed. I passed 8 people without a smile or a hello. It was really depressing.
And then someone ran by and said "good morning!" and my faith in humanity was restored...
I stopped my experiment and started smiling hello again. and I felt better!
~~~~~~~~~
Smile at someone, you'll feel better. - me
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~ Author unknown
A smile confuses an approaching frown. ~Author Unknown
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown
Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
~Author Unknown
Smiling is my favorite exercise. ~Author Unknown
You're never fully dressed without a smile. ~Martin Charnin
6 comments:
I've started smiling at my kids more when I'm talking to them. It's amazing how it diffuses potentially yucky situations. :o)
I've always been a "smile and say good morning" person. When I first moved to CA, I worked a lot in different buildings in and around Beverly Hills. I was mostly ignored or looked at as if I was insane... but I continued just to keep people guessing.
Wendy, I have noticed you smiling at people and wish I was as out going with strangers as you are. Though always when we are on the paths around our house, I must say hello or smile or it is awkward.
But, like Nikko said about smiling at her kids, I try to make sure I smile at our kids a lot or Lindsey will start asking me if I'm sad and that makes me feel guilty! Also, in primary I feel the need to make up for one of our presidency member's stern-ness by smiling a lot at the kids. Smiling goes a long way.
hi wendy,
amen sister! i feel this way, too. here's a smile from me to you, too.
:)
:) and another
:)
blessings this mama's day, kathleenybeany :)
If you see someone without a smile,
give him one of yours.
:o)
I LOVE the ANNIE quote! That's my fave song from the show. I always smile at people when they look at me.. most of the time they'll smile back or nod or something.
Mostly at work when I say hi to customers.. the mallrats ignore me.
I guess maybe I should just smile at them.lol
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