Smiling support
A Few Words Will Do The Uplifting Trick
What makes us shine? Know how to be uplifting.
Where does it come from? I really don’t know. It’s not because I’ve been raised hearing a constant flow of positive words. My six brothers thought the negative words were much more amusing. And yet, as my daughter would say ‘You always know something nice to say to people.’ I don’t know where it all started, but I do know I love it.
The first time my youngest daughter noticed this habit of mine was a few years ago. We had decided to go for a walk, despite the cold weather. As we passed the neighboring houses, we also passed the small gardens in front of the houses. I love to look at the spring flowers, some already showing their colors others making their way through the half-frozen black soil. Probably wondering why they want to be one of the first flowers to show up (and show off): who would see them shine in this shivering cold?
Well, I saw an elderly woman taking care of her spring flowers, she definitely saw her beautiful flowers shine. She was working in her garden as I remember my mother did. Standing bent over with her Sunday dress protected by an apron, she probably walked out of the kitchen to take care of a struggling daffodil. I saw how neat and tight the garden was. While walking by very slowly, I told the woman how beautiful her garden was. She raised up, looked at me with a smile, and said ‘Well thank you. Not many flowers yet, but I’m doing my best.’ I responded with an affirming ‘Yes, I can certainly see that! Have a nice day.’ and that was it. That simple sentence made my daughter say to me: ‘You always seem to know something nice to say. How do you do that?’
It took some time, but now I know, it’s pure simple actually. I love to see children, youngsters, parents, and elderly people feel uplifted by something simple. Something they hadn’t thought of. I love to see them smile. I love the hidden smile the most, suddenly realizing they are doing something okay, really okay. Whatever others would say or think of it, it is good, beautiful, amazing, or ‘just’ nice, it’s all reason enough to smile. Whatever others would say or think of it, it has been hard work, it has cost a lot of determination, and it has not been easy, it’s all reason enough to smile. I love to make them aware of this.
Smiling is uplifting. It’s so easy to do, so simple. The only thing you’ll have to keep in mind is ‘WHAT would make this child, teenager, young adult, or senior smile?’. And that is not always what makes you smile (or laugh in my brother's case). So you’ll have to imagine yourself being in their shoes, look around you (you don’t want to embarrass them when your words don’t do the positive trick), and say a few words. Don’t say a lot of words, it’s not about you. Observe their response and smile together with them. That’s all.
I still don’t know where it comes from, haha. I just love it. It could have something to do with my teaching job for over 35 years. Uplifting the various children I’ve seen was challenging at times. It could have something to do with what I’ve missed in my childhood. As a counteract of my brothers ‘downsizing “but” funny’ communication style. I just don’t know.
The only thing I do know is that I hope to see it happen more. And I know it makes me smile when I hear my daughter say something uplifting to my neighbor. The generational ripple effect of positive words. That does the uplifting trick for me.
Key Message: We all can make the world a smiling place by uplifting young and old people. Observe what’s important for them and say something nice about it.
Bye, smile, Ella