“I walked into the store and someone immediately came up to greet me. She said her name was Monica and that it was a pleasure to help me. But  it wasn’t her words that convinced me, but rather her smile.  She seemed genuinely happy to see me .” This is what Carmen, a classmate, told me. But she continued: “ Monica was wonderful to me the whole time.  She served me with great kindness and never stopped smiling . She made my experience so pleasant that I ended up buying more clothes than I had planned.”  We all appreciate that kind of attitude, whether we’re shopping, running an errand, or just grabbing a coffee.

We all value a genuine smile, because smiling costs little and is worth so much.  Seeing a smiling face  is like the expression of  being welcomed ; it conveys a warm welcome, it’s a sign of goodwill.

Smiling not only changes facial expression, but also, like physical exercise, causes  our brain to produce  endorphins , substances capable of reducing physical or emotional pain and creating a feeling of well-being.  That’s why, for example, it’s so difficult to smile when you’re depressed. In some people, smiling reflects pleasure or enjoyment, although at other times it represents the involuntary expression of anxiety or other emotions such as anger or irony.

Laughter and good humor are the best and cheapest medicines.  Children love to laugh and joke around. They discover this spontaneously just a few weeks after birth. That first smile awakens in us the greatest tenderness and the best feelings. Throughout their childhood, laughter will accompany them and fill their homes with one of the most beautiful sounds.

I don’t remember who it was (I think it was Aristotle) ​​who defined  humans as the only animals capable of laughter, or simply as the animal that laughs.  I like the quote from Charles Chaplin:  “A day without smiles is a day wasted.”  Please, don’t waste another day of your life and smile at the people around you. We all need smiling faces. In our families, at work, with friends, on the street, when greeting someone, or when ordering a coffee.  With a smile, everything becomes easier.  I suggest that every day, from time to time, you ask yourself: Who have I smiled at? And do I help others to smile?  Remember that smiling is free and opens many doors.  Sometimes  the best gift is a smile .

José Miguel Ponce

This article was published in the  Diario de Almería