Smiles

“If you see someone without a smile, give ‘em yours.” – Dolly Parton

The other day I just needed to get out of the house. I hadn’t been shopping in a while, so I thought it might be nice to just go out and calm my racing thoughts with some new clothes. New clothes always make a girl feel better. 

As I walked in the store, the lady buzzing around the shop re-stocking and re-folding things greeted me with a smile. I returned her smile and greeted her back. I started picking up a few things, and before I knew it I had a pile of clothes in my arms. The clerk noticed I had my hands full and offered to start a fitting room for me. I smiled again and told her that would be helpful. 

I grabbed a few more things and went back to review my haul and start trying things on. As I was sorting through and trying everything, the attendant came by a couple of times to check if I needed any different sizes or colors. The first two times she came in, I told her no thank you, I’m doing fine. The third time she came in I poked my head out and asked her if she could get me something in another color. I smiled and told her thank you. 

She was a talkative sort, and I guess I can be too, so she asked if I had a special occasion or trip I was taking. I told her that yes, I have a wellness retreat coming up but that I may cancel. I told her about our situation. Her eyes got really wide, and she said, “wow, all of that going on and you still came in here with a smile on your face for everyone.”

It kind of surprised me to think of being any other way towards people. Once I thought about it, I guess there are people that probably would let all of this bring them down. Yes, I have my moments. You better believe I’m pissed at God. I’m sad. I grieve deeply to have to watch my soulmate go through all of this. It’s excruciating at times. It’s exhausting. I feel like I’ve been in fight or flight mode since March 17. But it has never once occurred to me to take it out on someone else by being unkind.

Everyone’s going through something. Life can be tough, and it downright sucks sometimes. Everyone feels down now and then. But smiling takes zero effort. Smiling can be contagious. A smile can brighten someone’s day. And if you want to get scientific about it, smiling releases endorphins and reduces the stress hormone, cortisol. The very least I can do is be kind, even if all I can do is offer my smile.