Send a Smile

Dear Friends:

I woke up this morning searching for something random and significant; something substantial enough to make a difference. We all want to make this world a better place. We want to shake the atmosphere if we can. If we can't do that . . . if we can't have that degree of impact, we at least want to reach out and touch those who are close. But how?

What is the secret behind simple acts of kindness each and every day? I say it starts with a KISS -- that's (k)eep (i)t (s)imple (s)tupid. No need to complicate things -- find something easy and do it. But what? What could that possibly be?

Random acts should happen naturally. Kindness should flow the same way the river flows down stream (up stream if its the St. Johns). If we could only find a simple, specific do-able act and do it diligently until it becomes a habit -- wow! And what if we passed it on and others joined in? Just think how great that would be. Imagine how many people we might ultimately reach. Do the math. If I start a random act and pass it on to three of my friends who then pass it on to three of theirs and so on . . . suddenly we have this huge chain reaction and our lofty idea of showering the earth with kindness doesn't seem so silly anymore.

But first, we must find the proper act.

There is a ceramic mug next to my computer screen and it has caught my eye. It holds pens and markers. It is bright yellow with a big smiley face. Each time I get stuck at the keyboard with no ideas flowing, I rid myself of the frustration by looking over at that face staring straight at me. No matter what I'm thinking or how I'm feeling I can't help but shrug it off and smile back at that crazy little mug. Smiles beget more smiles.

Smiles do something wonderful for the soul. Smiles are contagious; they bless both the sender and the receiver. Smiles are the universal language of the heart. Smiles outspeak our words; they send waves of peace and joy throughout the atmosphere. Smiles have no boundaries. Smiles are the ultimate act of kindness. So there you have it my friends. If you want to bless others and experience a sense of joy -- smile. A smile might be the simplest and most effective random act of kindness you can ever commit. Just think, it only takes 21 days to change your behavior and smiles do not use nearly as many muscles as frowns (and thats great news for those of us aging Baby Boomers starting to see some wrinkles).

Wanna make a difference? Send a smile to everyone you know and remember to smile as you encounter others throughout your busy day.

Send a Smile,
Cindi (aka Poetic Justice)