The Story of a Smile
"I like to serenade beautiful women", he said chirpily.
I anxiously looked at my watch. I was in a hurry and in no mood to be serenaded. But I suddenly remembered that we are guaranteed no other time than that moment. We have to make the most of it. I stopped. What the heck, I thought. It was not an emergency. Let's just enjoy life.
And so, for a couple of minutes, while everyone passed by in their rush, I allowed myself to be serenaded and I felt special. But so did he, because he seemed very happy when he finished. Someone actually paid him some attention and affirmed his talents. He thanked me politely and profusely, as I continued on my journey. I don't think he cared about the £2 I dropped in his box. I would hazard a guess that, with everyone passing him all day, as though he were invisible, my smile and acknowledgement of his presence, to him, were priceless.
Without realising it, what I really did was to reinforce that human being in a positive way. Even though I felt a little embarrassed at people walking by and looking at us in some amusement, it didn't seem to matter, somehow. I reminded myself that leaders tend to stand out from the crowd! In that brief moment, I had fulfilled his two most urgent desires: to be accepted and not to be rejected.
Our Greatest Asset
We might not know it but a smile is the greatest asset we have. When we smile, it not only lights up our faces and spread good feeling, we also give permission for someone shy to smile too; to approach us; to feel good in their actions and to feel worthy. A smile does not just show our teeth or suggest how we feel. It is silently empowering and can make someone's day, big time! We affirm them and show we value them. Denying a smile or attention to someone increases their fear of being rejected, gives a negative message and does not add to our joy. Yet smiling is so easy to do and so priceless in its effects.
How is your smile today? Will you be withholding it or will you be giving it freely?
Whose life will you be enhancing today? You could affect someone much more than you think by your decision!
Related Tags: smile, london, happiness, event, underground
ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah) is a media contributor and columnist for Black Britain Online. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge, Elaine is a CONSULTANT for Diversity Management, Personal Empowerment and Relationships. Dynamic extrovert with a passion for living and people. An intelligent, confident expert who enjoys every aspect of life. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others. Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Achievement Awards. She describes herself as "Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!" QUOTE: "I do not wish to be any other age because my life at 25 was nowhere as exciting and enjoyable as my life at 50. One thing is certain: no genteel ageing for me - I'll be going there disgracefully and enjoying every minute!"
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