Smile - True Story ...Contd (Part II)

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Smile at an American and I bet he will never forget to ask in return 'How are you?' in his typical accent. A British might just say 'Hello' as I do. But most other Mangaloreans would certainly think 'What has really gone wrong with this man?' This attitude, the way I see it is not good. After all what's wrong in smiling at each other? I just can't understand it.

A Smile never cost anything. It enriches those who receive one without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash, and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. A smile can never be begged, borrowed or stolen, but it is of no earthy good to anyone until it's given away. So if in your hurry you run across someone too weary to smile then leave one of yours. Trust me; no one needs a smile as much as he who has none to give. A smile is indeed very contagious. But there is a wonderful pleasure in being its carrier. After all, what does it costs you?

There's a very sweet story which I always remember when I think of the word 'Smile'. This story is about a little girl who walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightening, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky.

Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another followed quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, 'What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?' The child answered, 'I am trying to look pretty. God keeps taking my picture.'

We don't smile until we are happy. Do we? We have almost convinced ourselves that life will be better after we married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire. The truth, as some wise person has said, is that there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when do you think would be the right time? Your life is always filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So we need to learn to treasure every moment that we have and treasure it more because you have shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with… and remember that time and tide waits for no one. There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.