A Smile

A little smile goes a long way

March 31

I went to Costco today with my oldest daughter. We both wanted to stock up on some food so we wouldn't need to go into the stores. We heard the peak of the virus will be on the 22nd of April and we want to abide by the stay at home mandate as much as possible. I made us some homemade respiratory masks just for a little added protection. It feels weird to walk around a store with a mask on. I love to smile at people when I am out. With a face mask covering your mouth, it felt like smiling was pointless because no one could see it. But I couldn't help but smile. It is such a natural thing for me to do. I noticed people were smiling back! I always thought of a smile being about your mouth. A real smile includes your eyes. Your eyes truly are a window to your soul. If your eyes are not engaged in your smile, it is fake and insincere. We have all seen someone put their mouth into the shape of a smile, but we all know they are not smiling. I just never realized it was the eyes that made the difference. When we smile, we release endorphins in our brain. When I smile, generally people smile back. Endorphins are released. With a simple action, like a smile, I can help bring a little joy into someone’s day. I normally don't think about it a whole lot, I just do it and it is contagious and I feel better. When I got to Costco and put the mask on, I subconsciously thought I wouldn't be able to experience that today. I felt a little isolated. God showed me how wrong I was. A smile is more than just what you do with your mouth, it is your whole face. My half covered smile was just as powerful. I went home a little happier, and I hope I left a little of that happiness behind.