Smile - True Story ...Contd1 (Part III)

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There is one even more touching story about 'Smile' and that is this one: There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his backpack with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey. When he had gone a few blocks from home, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park near the water just feeding the birds. The boy sat down next to him and opened his backpack. He was about to take a drink from his root beer, when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The old man gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so incredible that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Once again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, and ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. The old man gave him his biggest smile ever!

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of a joy on his face. She asked her son: "What did you do today that made you so happy?" The child replied: "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added: "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile the old man, who was also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son stunned by the look of peace on his face asked: "Dad, what did you do today that made you happy?" He replied: "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." Before his son responded, he added: "You know he's much younger than I had expected."

Have you ever seen a child smiling? If not the next time you see a child give a very gentle smile and wait for some time. The child will probably simply return one back to you. When we were kids, if you can remember, we always smiled at others. Now that we are old why don't we? Perhaps this is something that a man has to learn from a child. Even a child can understand the language of smiles. It is one thing which transcends all boundaries, language, religion, cast and creed. Smile to a person and smile with gentleness he/she will revert back. They have to. It is an emotional obligation.

As I wrote this article, I was having a Chat conversation with my friend Mukund Kamath. He owns Ideal Ice-cream, and he has something interesting to say: "People tend to think that if they smile, their social standards will come down. Hence they will not smile to a common man. It's precisely the killer ego which is restraining us from contributing a good smile to society."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring all of which have the potential to make someone's day a very special one, or may be even turn someone's life around. And because we underestimate them, we continue to stay away from our modest happiness – a Smile. I can't say accurately as to whether people in all other parts of the world are today deprived of happiness and smiles. But the case is true when it come to Mangalore and Bangalore. Why don't we change? The next time you find a person, be it any one, give him a gentle and selfless smile only then would you know what you had been deprived of in life of till now.

My mentor and great friend, Adam Clapham, wants to add: "My biology master at school told us that it is a fact that you use ten times as many muscles to frown as you do to smile." before I conclude.