Sonreír

This idea of starting a blog is a pretty old one (always had lots to say). But me being a  homolazyein, never actually did it until today when a friend actually inspired me to do this (“Even if u write crap”,he said, “u may inspire generations to come how not to write a blog and thereby see the power of compounded good karma unfold!”). So, here I was, sitting at my desk and staring at the question which all novice bloggers would have encountered upon starting their blog… what in this world should I write about???

While having bhelpuri in Office I smiled at a Lady ( Aunty who works here ) and then  to my surprise, she smiled back with some question in kannada which meant  “how are you”? “ Uttama”, I replied! (Yes, I don’t know the language, but I know those few words which matter!

Such is the magic of a smile! And yet, how often we do that? Ask yourself. Oh me?? I smile a lot, I smile to everyone a)I meet  b) I know somehow ( except for the times when I have got a rating of 2 and my boss has lectured me over something n similar ). 

And yes, I am improving. 

Up till a FEW months back I never did smile to anyone. I didn't see a point until something struck me. It was a programme I attended at The Art of Living Foundation (will tell you about that later) where they pointed out that a smile never killed anyone, so why not smile as often as you can! As I started doing that it did wonders!! No I didn't become Maa Rashmi Devi or something like that but I noticed the change. 

I’ll quote a few facts first before sharing my experience-

1.      Smile reduces stress (So what if you messed up with the deliverable and the client is dancing on your head, lookup, go out and share  a smile with the golgappa chap or the auto wallah guy )
2.       Smile lowers heart rate
3.       It encourages Trust
4.       Also builds attraction ( oooooo….)
5.       You look Younger (Really?? I won’t stop smiling now)

Well these are few scientific facts I quoted to make some sense to all the readers who believe in facts more than experiences. But experiences are even better.
just by smiling at a few people in my office I have made new friends.A very young lady who works here as  a maid is a good friend now, everyday we make sure to have a little chat about how the day was, her siblings etc. Even the canteen guy now keeps my favorite guava juice
( yes the last one) for me and we always exchange a few friendly words in Hindi/ Kananda . 

And yes my very own maid! I have to open the door for her every day. Earlier I never cared about anything and just let her in. But then I realized I should open the door with a smile and hell ya!  it made all the difference .She now asks me  how I am every single day even if I am all droopy , boils milk for me ( she knows I am too lazy to do that  ) and moreover she leaves the house with a happy face !!!

Obviously when we smile at someone they feel good and take it as acceptance, specially people who work for us . Don’t we like when our bosses smile at us ( I know that doesn't happen but let’s imagine and be optimistic)
Who knows you can make somebody’s day just with a smile. That's going to a good karma!! So my dear friends and foes…go out and smile and the world will smile back at you.

Word of Caution :

1.       Don’t forget the cultural barrier ( In UK people don’t smile at  strangers , yes they don’t . So take care  in such situations)
2.       Don’t smile to someone if he has just got a thrashing or have come back from a funeral ( Please don’t forget to use the common sense)
3.        Guys don’t smile at random girls and make sure it’s not a smirk at least .

I hope I made some sense out of those few thousand letters I just scribbled. I will quote Mother Teresa here as her smile was enigmatic “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

Till then Happy Smiling :)