Bringing a Little Smile to Someone’s Face Could Be the Best Move You’ll Make Today

Making someone’s day could be a bigger deal than you think.

He was probably 85 years old or so. Tall and thin yet appeared strong, with a full head of beautiful silver hair.

He slowly descended a steep hill as I put one step in front of the other, striding uphill, breathing deeply.

There aren’t any sidewalks, so we’re both in the street — on opposite sides. As we approach, he stops to say hello.

I return the greeting and ask, “How are you?” A short conversation develops, exchanging pleasantries.

Twenty minutes later, we meet again. Mr. Silverhair is trekking uphill this time as I’m effortlessly gliding down. “Have a great day!” I say, but he indicates he has something to convey.

He wants to pet Merlin. I cross, and they share some love. My new friend’s dark, kind eyes thank me and tell me he’s lonely.

We converse for a few more moments.

I turn to leave.

He puts out his hand. I reach out to shake. He gently lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back.

Tears spring to my eyes, and I see his eyes are glistening, too.

As we part — we both can barely speak but manage to say, “I hope to see you again.”

My heart is filled to overflowing with this simple, sweet gesture.

I see the smile on his lips and know that we have made a beautiful start to our day.

There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. — Leonard Cohen, poet and singer-songwriter.

Elderly women

Women in their 80s being nasty and acting like mean girls from Junior High? No way that could be true. Or could it?

Several months ago, I visited an elderly friend following the death of her husband. Gladys sold her lifelong home and moved into a retirement residence.

When I questioned how she got along in her new environment, she commented that some women were cruel. Seriously, I thought?

Most of the women were lurching along with their walkers, as was my friend.

Could people of this age and frailty find it in themselves to pick on another? I usually associate this type of behavior with adolescents.

Regrettably, this is not the case.

As Gladys relayed, several women snubbed her when she attempted to join their table for dinner, whispering to one another. The leader of the pack stated that “Mary” would be sitting in the seat Gladys was choosing.

A resident at another table kindly motioned for Gladys to join her.

She was pleased and comforted by the invitation and observed that “Mary” never materialized.

I thought people would grow out of nasty, petty behavior once they have attained their senior years. Unfortunately, as noted, this type of behavior exists in folks of all ages.

Happily, through her new friend, Gladys found her own community.

Gladys smiled broadly as she relayed the kindness of her new friend. Her days there are now enjoyable and peaceful.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. — Winston Churchill.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I’m sure you have felt the negative force of a person who is in a grumpy mood. That adversarial air can pull us down if we don’t emotionally protect ourselves.

Conversely, an upbeat, buoyant man or woman can give us a feeling of joy and gratitude.

Bring a smile to someone’s day with a simple kindness or a touch of compassion.

I know most humans offer kindness.

However, writing about it is a reminder to me and to anyone to continue with these courtesies.

Attitude adjustment

What about our attitude?

Let’s practice adjusting our energy if we are irritable and cranky. Determine why we’re feeling this way as quickly as possible and try “acting as if.”

Act as if you are in a fabulous mood and will have a spectacular day.

Smile at the first person you see. Better yet, plan on a friendly greeting to a minimum of five people a day — what a purposeful way of increasing our chances of brightening a fellow human’s mood.

The upside to smiling at someone is that you will automatically feel better and happier, shifting your energy into the positive.

As Laura Lynn Jackson writes in her book Signs:

It is a way of honoring the great blessing of our interconnectedness. And when we do this — when we shift our energy — we become more receptive to the energy of others and to the energy of the universe.

Another easy, straightforward way of showing kindness to another is to listen.

Ask your friends about their day just as you do when your children return from school.

Often, a simple “How was work today?”- to your friend or spouse can open up a gush of emotions, releasing pent-up tension.

Yes, it is a fundamental act yet so profoundly important.

Many times, an accomplishment goes unrecognized, leaving the person feeling disheartened. Celebrating another’s successes is uplifting and gratifying to the receiver and allows them to acknowledge their pride and achievements.

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Please remember to give yourself credit for your wins every day.

Take a moment to think about what you have attained and how you handled a difficult situation with aplomb.

Or the colossal sale you managed to close, how you soothed a little one’s temper tantrum.

All these deeds, large and small, make you uniquely you — a giving person and giving to yourself, too.

You can’t make someone’s day brighter if you don’t love and appreciate yourself every day.