The power of a smile
July 4, 2004 | 12:00am
While going through my files, I came across an old message sent by a good friend, Percy Samson, that made me break into a smile. It read: "Smile is the lighting system of the face, the cooling system of the head, and the heating system of the heart, so always smile. But don’t smile alone iba na yan (that’s something else)!"
What is a smile? A smile is a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth. We shall put aside the sarcastic and scornful smile here and concentrate on that pleasant expression which is accompanied by joy, pleasure and delight.
To smile is one of the most marvelous things a man can do. A smile can make your day; it can even save your day. You will never know what one innocent little smile can lead to. As they say, a smile is the shortest distance between two people. And it can lead to a beautiful friendship, perhaps even true love. So keep on smiling, and here are some of the reasons why.
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. – Author unknown No matter how bad things are, how low you feel, or how dreary life seems, your overall view of the world would greatly change if you smile. A smile can put you in a good mood to face even the most difficult challenge of the day.
A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. – Charles Gordy Many people go to great lengths to change their appearance through makeup, clothing, accessories, cosmetic surgery, etc. Very few realize that oftentimes all they need is to improve the quality and sincerity of their smile. Other people seldom notice your flaws when you wear a big, bright smile!
A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home. – Author unknown When you smile at someone, it signifies that you are there for that person. A smile acknowledges the presence of the other party, establishes the connection between the two of you, and announces that you are available for interaction. You can say "Hi!" without actually saying it; simply do it with a smile!
It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. – Author unknown It actually takes more effort to frown than to smile. You only need 17 muscles from each side of your face to smile. Frowning takes 43 muscles – those around your mouth, your eyes, on your forehead and in your neck. Frowning distorts your face and when habitually done, produces deep, ugly wrinkles.
If you smile at someone, they might smile back. – Author unknown Many of us refrain from smiling at others because we are afraid they won’t smile back. We fear being rejected. But the universe is a mirror; it reflects whatever you do. How can you get someone to smile at you when you don’t initiate the smiling? Smiling is like knocking on doors. The more doors you knock on, the chances of them opening are higher.
I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. – Author unknown Why is it that contestants in beauty pageants project their best smiles? It is because a smiling face is associated with beauty, confidence and attractiveness. Even the most average looking face starts to glow once it starts to smile. No makeup can paint a sincere smile on your face; only a cheerful heart can.
Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. – George Eliot When you are rich in smiles, you’ll have a wealth of friends. People gravitate towards those who are friendly and have beautiful, endearing smiles. When you wear a frown on a sour face, no one would want to be your friend and you’ll end up with a face worse than a wrinkled prune.
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. – Mother Teresa When you receive a smile, you should be thankful because a smile is a quiet but powerful gift. A smile doesn’t cost a thing yet people are so frugal when it comes to giving smiles. Smile more often; it lightens up the hardships, sufferings and grief in this world. Nothing is as beautiful and so easy to give as a smile!
Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. – Charles Reade Remember Helen of Troy whose legendary beauty launched a thousand ships? Being beautiful or good-looking gives you power. In today’s modern world, if you are beautiful, gate crashing an exclusive party would be no problem. The host would even go out of his way to usher you in. And how do you attack using beauty as your weapon? Stab ever so gently with an appealing smile!
A smile is the universal welcome. – Max Eastman Around the world, a smile is the greeting of welcome. When you are met with a smile, you are gladly received into the person’s home or territory. You have to smile back to signify that you are honored by their hospitality. Of course, there are deceptive smiles and these you should be careful with!
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be surly at home, then go out on the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers. – Maya Angelou Charity begins at home. Smile at the people you love first before smiling at strangers. We usually take those close to our hearts for granted, and become stern and strict with them. Don’t bring home the harshness and problems from your work or office. Make sure to fill your home with kindness, tenderness, and lots and lots smiles!
Keep smiling. It intrigues people as to what secret you possess! – Dero Pedero People are always intrigued by those who seem to have inner joy, those with a serene smile on their face. People get envious when you seem to be enjoying something that they aren’t. Winners know something ordinary people don’t and they flash it with the smile of confidence.
We should never underestimate the power of a smile. It can bring joy to those who are sad, comfort to those in pain, sunshine to those experiencing darkness and rain. Someone once wrote:
"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give." – Author unknown
A woman smiled at a sorrowful stranger; the smile seemed to make him feel better. He remembered past kindness of a friend and wrote him a thank you letter. The friend was so pleased with the thank you letter that he left a large tip after lunch. The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip, bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings, and gave part to a man on the street. The man on the street was grateful because for two days he had nothing to eat. After he finished his dinner, he left for his small dingy room. He did not know at that moment that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy and took it home to get warm. The puppy was so grateful to be out of the storm. That night the house caught fire, the puppy barked the alarm. He barked till he woke up the whole household and saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys rescued grew up to be the President. All this because of a simple smile that hadn’t cost a cent. (Author unknown; forwarded by Angel Cruz)
Who was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (1910-1997)? The author of quotation number eight above was born in Skopje, Macedonia with this name.
For your comments, e-mail DeroSeminar@yahoo.com. Should you wish to forward this article to friends, please acknowledge the author and The Philippine Star.
What is a smile? A smile is a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth. We shall put aside the sarcastic and scornful smile here and concentrate on that pleasant expression which is accompanied by joy, pleasure and delight.
To smile is one of the most marvelous things a man can do. A smile can make your day; it can even save your day. You will never know what one innocent little smile can lead to. As they say, a smile is the shortest distance between two people. And it can lead to a beautiful friendship, perhaps even true love. So keep on smiling, and here are some of the reasons why.
A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. – Charles Gordy Many people go to great lengths to change their appearance through makeup, clothing, accessories, cosmetic surgery, etc. Very few realize that oftentimes all they need is to improve the quality and sincerity of their smile. Other people seldom notice your flaws when you wear a big, bright smile!
A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home. – Author unknown When you smile at someone, it signifies that you are there for that person. A smile acknowledges the presence of the other party, establishes the connection between the two of you, and announces that you are available for interaction. You can say "Hi!" without actually saying it; simply do it with a smile!
It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. – Author unknown It actually takes more effort to frown than to smile. You only need 17 muscles from each side of your face to smile. Frowning takes 43 muscles – those around your mouth, your eyes, on your forehead and in your neck. Frowning distorts your face and when habitually done, produces deep, ugly wrinkles.
If you smile at someone, they might smile back. – Author unknown Many of us refrain from smiling at others because we are afraid they won’t smile back. We fear being rejected. But the universe is a mirror; it reflects whatever you do. How can you get someone to smile at you when you don’t initiate the smiling? Smiling is like knocking on doors. The more doors you knock on, the chances of them opening are higher.
I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. – Author unknown Why is it that contestants in beauty pageants project their best smiles? It is because a smiling face is associated with beauty, confidence and attractiveness. Even the most average looking face starts to glow once it starts to smile. No makeup can paint a sincere smile on your face; only a cheerful heart can.
Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. – George Eliot When you are rich in smiles, you’ll have a wealth of friends. People gravitate towards those who are friendly and have beautiful, endearing smiles. When you wear a frown on a sour face, no one would want to be your friend and you’ll end up with a face worse than a wrinkled prune.
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. – Mother Teresa When you receive a smile, you should be thankful because a smile is a quiet but powerful gift. A smile doesn’t cost a thing yet people are so frugal when it comes to giving smiles. Smile more often; it lightens up the hardships, sufferings and grief in this world. Nothing is as beautiful and so easy to give as a smile!
Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. – Charles Reade Remember Helen of Troy whose legendary beauty launched a thousand ships? Being beautiful or good-looking gives you power. In today’s modern world, if you are beautiful, gate crashing an exclusive party would be no problem. The host would even go out of his way to usher you in. And how do you attack using beauty as your weapon? Stab ever so gently with an appealing smile!
A smile is the universal welcome. – Max Eastman Around the world, a smile is the greeting of welcome. When you are met with a smile, you are gladly received into the person’s home or territory. You have to smile back to signify that you are honored by their hospitality. Of course, there are deceptive smiles and these you should be careful with!
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be surly at home, then go out on the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers. – Maya Angelou Charity begins at home. Smile at the people you love first before smiling at strangers. We usually take those close to our hearts for granted, and become stern and strict with them. Don’t bring home the harshness and problems from your work or office. Make sure to fill your home with kindness, tenderness, and lots and lots smiles!
Keep smiling. It intrigues people as to what secret you possess! – Dero Pedero People are always intrigued by those who seem to have inner joy, those with a serene smile on their face. People get envious when you seem to be enjoying something that they aren’t. Winners know something ordinary people don’t and they flash it with the smile of confidence.
"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give." – Author unknown
The next day she picked up her winnings, and gave part to a man on the street. The man on the street was grateful because for two days he had nothing to eat. After he finished his dinner, he left for his small dingy room. He did not know at that moment that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy and took it home to get warm. The puppy was so grateful to be out of the storm. That night the house caught fire, the puppy barked the alarm. He barked till he woke up the whole household and saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys rescued grew up to be the President. All this because of a simple smile that hadn’t cost a cent. (Author unknown; forwarded by Angel Cruz)
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