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Your winsome smile will be your sure protection.
After eating lunch at a very nice Chinese restaurant a few years back, I broke open my fortune cookie to find the above statement. Today, after coming across that little slip of paper, I couldn’t help but wonder if my smile has helped with my attitude towards others, or hurt it. And another thought I had, how will it protect me? Ok, hold on, let me try to explain.
I remember a time back in the day when my boyfriend picked me up to have lunch with him. As I walked towards his car, it brought joy to my face just seeing him. It never occurred to me that my smile was a mile wide until he asked me what I was smiling about. I said, “um, nothing”. Well, the rest of that day is still a complete blur. There isn’t one thing in my memory bank I remember of it. Since then, a couple of other people have asked me the same question. And I’ve had to ask myself, what’s wrong with people now a days?
I have always been a smiley person. Many people have told me that I have a pretty smile. I never ever thought that my smile would hurt someone, let alone, it becoming my source of pain. My smile gradually turned upside down over the years. 
It didn’t help that I used to work with the most un-smiley people in the world. It had become a drain of energy just walking pass them every day. It didn’t help either when I learned that we can get facial wrinkles just from smiling too much. Now, I have to make myself smile especially after leaving the grocery store and gas pump. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about, don’t you?
The problem I have is I’ve become afraid of smiling at people because they may think I want something from them or that I’m just a strange person cause no one is ever happy and smiling all the time. It’s perplexing to me how reluctant people are to smile back, so many times I just go about my merry way with my smile turned in. This makes me so sad cause despite everything that’s going on around us, wherever we are in our own little corner of the world, someone needs a great big SMILE. Not everything in my life is going well, but I know there are others a lot less fortunate than myself. So today I’ve decided to change back to the smiley person that I was before. I’m giving myself a smile challenge. I’m going to smile, and people can think whatever they want to think. Maybe I’ll get some smiles back instead of that dreaded question. I hope now you understand my thoughts. If you feel up to it, would you help me pass a SMILE around?
“I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.”
– Mother Teresa
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Changeversations 
I am glad you decided to start smiling again. The world needs it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I am not a smiley person but this encourages me to make an effort to smile more. Even if I don’t feel like it on the inside a nice smile is good for everyone.
Hi NeeNee. Thanks for your words of encouragement. I’m glad you are encouraged to take the smile challenge, as well. I do have a confession. My daughter and I were at a local department store waiting in line for several minutes for a clerk to finish up the person in front of us. We noticed another clerk just standing around but thought her register was closed. We finally made a move to leave the line to go towards her when she finally acknowledged us to come. By then I wasn’t in the mood to smile. I know a lot of these instances are really designed to test my patience and character. I FAILED! Hopefully, I’m getting a little wiser by acknowledging that.
Keep smiling! 🙂
Pingback: Today’s Challenge…Smile « VeehCirra
Thank you so much for the pingback, VeehCirra. 🙂
The lines on your face made by smiling are not lines of age..They are laughter lines and when you depart this world, your laughter lines will decide where abouts in Heaven you go. Therefore the more smiley lines the higher up the list you go!
That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it…
Also if you smile at some one and it is not returned, that smile is etched into their memory. They may not reciprocate but they will not forget.
When I lived in Spain , everyone smiled and said good morning when ever you met someone. This was something that I liked..so when I went to stay with daughter in Bexley Kent and whilst taking baby for a ride in push chair I came across a lady doing some work in her front garden. Good morning said I…no response. Good morning I said again what a beautiful morning and what a beautiful garden…that got her attention..she turned to me smiled, and thanked me.
I could easily have walked on after the first no response but not being used to that attitude I persevered.and it worked.
never give up at the first hurdle.
Remember: Smile and the world smiles with you. Cry and you cry alone
I know which I would choose !
That’s all Folks love from patrecia
Patrecia, I’m so glad you stopped by to share your thoughts on smiling. I want/need to get high up on the list where you are. 🙂 Your beautiful smile is contagious. And people do like being complimented. Even though we’re miles apart I feel your warm and pleasant disposition. Here’s a big smile and hug
( 🙂 ) for you. Keep it up, my friend. The world needs you!