I try to be friendly to everyone I meet. I try to give them a smile and say, “Hello!” and “Have a good day!” All I aim for in that interaction is to put a smile on a person’s face. I want to leave them happier than when I met them.
One time, I was in the grocery store with my father. I was trying to keep up with him (he’s a fast walker, and I’m most certainly not!).
On one of the many times that I took a break from running, I looked over and saw a man who looked unhappy. He looked as if he was mad at the world.
Smiling to myself, I thought, I should go over and see if I can cheer him up.
So, I went over and engaged the man in conversation. Throughout, I could see his expression change from sulking, I’m-mad-at-the-world to one of happiness.
Thinking back on that experience, I am reminded of a quote I heard in an interview with Dolly Parton:
“If you see somebody without a smile, give them one of yours.”
That quote resonated with me deeply because it speaks to the concept of karma: what you give, you will receive back ten-fold. I always try my best to make a positive impact on as many people as I can.
Who will you give a smile to?
What is a quote that resonates with you, or a special memory that you have where you made someone feel better? I’d love to know. Please let me know in the comments!
One day I was volunteering in a soup kitchen, serving some pasta. Being about 10 years old I did not quite understand why my mom was making me spend my Sunday in some foreign place, so I was a bit sulky. A man accross the counter, receiving his free meal I prepped said, with a smile, “Thank you young lady! Now stay in school or else you will end up like me!” This made me chuckle and for the rest of my time I was happy for helping others. I was then able to smile and be in a chipper mood to put smiles on others faces that day. What goes around comes around!! Oh, funny side note. I stopped going to college, I did not stay in school. I was not heading down a promising path. Lucky me I stayed away from drugs and toxic people and had a house to stay in. But I was living in my own hell. He tried to warn me! I will be going back to school spring of 2021, and my life is turning around for the better.
Great blog post! The Dolly Parton quote put a smile on my face, she is so inspirational. You are too, Lou.
Smiling ❤