Yesterday, i really learnt the power behind smiling. When we pose for pictures, we have the person behind the camera saying "Smile please or say cheese." We have smiley mouths that tell us to buy everything from toothpaste to jewellery, and stylized "happy faces" sporting huge smiles that peer at us from posters and stickers. What the heck-smiling is even considered a milestone in a baby's growth, as parents anxiously await their baby's first smile and wonder if its mistaken for gas or is it a genuine smile?
But, for adults, especially as we grow older, smiling is something that we forget to do often and thereby making things more serious for everyone around us.
Coming back to my incident yesterday, I had to interview this candidate who was way senior to me in age and work experience. In my past experiences, i've often held a pleasant disposition towards candidates we bring in for interviews and i do my best to make sure that the other person feels comfortable and less nervous by breaking the ice. Yesterday, i wasn't sure if i needed to maintain the same attire or if i should appear more uptight, as i result i was feeling a lot more nervous than probably the candidate who came in. Anyways, as soon as i met this person, he smiled at me-not sure if it was a smile intended to make me feel inexperienced in questioning this individual or if it was a smile that was genuinely intended to make me feel more comfortable, but ignoring the various other interpretations that my mind could churn for his smile, i smiled back and it was easy afterwards.
Just thought about the difference a positive and genuine smile can do at the right moments. A smile is a happy curve that sets things right and makes your day seem brighter and lighter. Irrespective of the several interpretations at different situtations, a smile only eases the tension of the moment and breaks the ice.
9 comments:
"parents anxiously await their baby's first smile and wonder if its mistaken for gas or is it a genuine smile" - very funny. and very true :) but u're right about smiling. a simple smile(especially a baby's smile) has the power to make even the worst day turn good...
Very well written.. This is something I learnt after coming to US.. Smiling at total strangers and wishing them.. I like it.. I have smiled more in the last year and half than in my previous 5-6 years, I guess.. :-)
Keep smiling !!!
balaji:i guess it is indeed a joy to watch a baby grow, until they start becoming too active and naughty-then it become hard on the parents..anyways, enjoy ur baby..
raju:true true...although, i smile a lot outside the house at total strangers and people at work, its different once you get home to maintain the same disposition throughout.
mm.. reminds me of some good scenes from the movie "Vedam" of Arjun. Visu and Vijayakumari as a old pair.. Visu says "we say sorry and thanks to total strangers if we commit a mistake or get a help.. why not do that with spouse?".
When we take someone close for granted, things tend to change. If one takes his/her spouse as a good friend at first and then as spouse, then things would be different for good. I say "thanks and sorry" to my wife when required, smile at her whenever possible, wish her "good morning, good day to good night". As you said, "A smile is a happy curve that sets things right" . It does very well at home.. :-)
raju: thanks for hsaring that piece of info. I agree and also follow that, but at times, it does become hard to constantly be smiling at the home front, on days when things don't go right. No other go, you have to be professional at work and keep that smile, even its forced, but at home, you can take some liberties with folks who can understand that you've ha da rough day.
Very true indeed. A Smile can really change everything and its contagious...
Spread the Smile and live happy...
A cheery smile definitely would make one's day! The only time it becomes a task is during one's wedding reception!!
for a genuiune smile watch a kid.
for a fake smile go to the nearest albertsons and then buy a gum and ask for 20 bucks cashback. you are guaranteed to get a fake smile.
:)
nicely written.
rags: Thanks.
me_too:haha..smile at wedding reception, brings back a lot of memories.....
sundar:thanks.....good one on the fake smile..haven't tried that one before.
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