Friday, January 30, 2009

Beautiful smiles

Somewhere in my profile I believe I mention that I live for the "Aha!" moments in life. I believe I heard a teacher somewhere along the line refer to these as Aha moments and it just stuck as it fits, so that's what I call them. I do my best to try to incorporate these revelations when I have them, as I believe they truly help us grow. Sort of like a word of the day where they say if you try to use a new word in conversation it will stick in your mind. One of the earliest I can remember is driving through my neighborhood in my late teens, and seeing this little old man just standing in his front yard observing the world, perhaps reflecting on his own revelations. As I drove by, he graced me with the loveliest smile. It was a genuine smile, the sort that makes you feel sunshine on your soul, and I can still remember his face to this day. In that moment I felt compelled to stop and tell him how I felt. I didn't think about it, I just reversed, rolled down my window, and said, "You have the most beautiful smile, I just had to tell you. Thank you for sharing it with me." He gave me a wave and I drove off with a warm heart. It was a simple interaction, but it had such a profound impact on me. I don't know if he remembers me or that moment, but many times I reflect on that day and wonder. Did I have any impact on his life? Did I make his day a little brighter? What was going on in his life at that time, did he have trials and maybe I made those trials a little easier because he could smile through them and know that when he does he's adding beauty to the world? Perhaps not, perhaps he was hard of hearing and never even heard what I said! I hope that he did. Either way it changed my outlook. Small gestures can be so powerful. I greet everyone with a Good Morning and a smile, I try to find something positive to pass on to people, whether it be as simple as a compliment on a piece of clothing, or helping someone with their groceries. Even just letting someone into traffic or not flipping out when person in front of you is driving 20 miles an hour, you do not know what their lifes journey is, perhaps it is someone's grandfather driving to a hospice to visit his dying wife of 55 years as happened to my grandfather. Maybe someone just found out they are pregnant and is a little distracted and that's why they cut you off. Or perhaps letting someone into a line of traffic is the difference between that person making it through the day and breaking down over life's struggles. Sometimes it doesn't take much to tip the scales either way. And perhaps that small gesture will make such an impact that the stranger will remember you and your act of kindness, and your kindness will carry on a legacy.

2 comments:

  1. Very fine post. A good Friday to you.

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  2. You are so right about the little things being so important.

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