I smile every time I see you online too. I like how smiles are able to be transmitted through pictures and words and symbols as well. :-)

It can be tough sometimes to smile when there aren’t smiles being returned. One thing to try may be to think of things that you are grateful for or how you feel when someone smiles at you.
I thought about the one time that I was in Manhattan which was years ago when I was working on a documentary film. We were interviewing someone who lived in the same apartment building where Woody Allen was shooting Husbands and Wives. We had to walk a few blocks to get there since the trucks were taking all of the parking spots on the street around the building. I was bringing some gear up in the passenger elevator and one of the residents got on and as soon as the door closed he started swearing at me and saying how I wasn’t supposed to take the passenger elevator and that there was nowhere to park. I was shocked and told him that I wasn’t with that film crew, but from a documentary crew from Canada. He instantly changed and smiled and said, “oh, how are you finding the city?” and we had a nice chat.
Sometimes the surface doesn’t reflect what is inside someone.

There is this female security guard at the soon-to-be former company I worked. Every morning I would come in bright and early and greet her with a cheerful “Hi!!” or “Good Morning!!” I think it took over a year for her to answer me back. And when she did, she would just sort of acknowledge with a ‘hi’.

Most people aren’t that tough to crack. I figure it this way, at least I send out good vibes that help give good energy.

Though I cannot control other people’s reactions to me, I can control my own and knowing that many people love my smile and how it makes them feel valued is good enough for me.

The other day I was driving and though I did not have to let this woman into the street, I did. There was so much traffic and it’s just common courtesy. Did she acknowledge me at all? Nope. She kept talking on her phone and it appeared that she was oblivious to the kindness and thoughtfulness of a stranger.

That’s really more the norm than the exception. So many people are caught up in their own little world, not noticing the “sweet, wonderful things in life” and that’s too bad. I’m guilty of it, too.

David, you make so many people smile here on 43T, that I find it hard to believe this could be an issue with you. Sometimes I make little comments, “Wow, your life must be really rough right now for you to have that look on your face. Hope the rest of your day goes better.” Than off I go.

Often times people are not aware they are frowning so big or often, people can look right at a person and not even see them. Don’t take offense. Just know that you’re smiling for yourself and if someone takes your smile, great. If not, at least smiling is great for you!!!

Blessings,
Doris

we attended a nearby university (it was in New Jersey). The culture there was so different than I was used to – people at my home school, University of the Pacific, would make eye contact, smile and say “Hi!”... it was just like breathing.

I remember specifically standing in line at this other school and I smiled a a young woman I knew from elementary school who coincidentally went to this university. Her friend looked at her and said, “Why is she smiling at you?” like it was a disease.

Just made me smile more, at more people.