I’m in the smile business. I can take an ugly smile and, in most cases, make it a very attractive one. Sometimes it’s something simple. At other times it’s not. Often, it depends upon how much I have to change to get there, as well as what people, themselves, are willing to do toward an end.
But the smiles I really care about the most are those that start on the inside.
Sure, I treat diseases. I also repair things that are broken down, replace things that are missing, prevent things that shouldn’t happen from happening, and more. It’s all part of the job. But at the end of the day, the thing I value the most are the smiles.
In today’s day and age, it seems that people are so focused upon the problems around them; they find it harder and harder to find the smile within them. After all, the media works hard to put our attention on earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, unemployment, inflation, recession, terrorist attacks, famine, wars – and that’s just before breakfast. Who the heck wants to smile after that?
It’s really enough to make someone want to give up, to lose hope, or maybe even feel sorry for themselves. I sometimes think that’s actually the point: to beat us down. If we are all depressed, maybe they can sell us happiness in the form of something material thing, or package it in a pill. Maybe Madonna was right when she sang “Material World” after all.
So what can we do about it?
Start with a smile.
If it doesn’t feel natural, go ahead and force yourself. It actually takes courage to smile in the face of adversity, but that resolve is one thing no one can take away from you. It is also the gift you can give to another that costs you nothing – yet it will be cherished long after you have given it.
A smile is powerful because it emanates from you and when given genuinely, is truly valued.
Over the years I have accomplished many things both within my immediate profession and outside of it. People have paid me good money to help them with their problems but, when the time comes to hang up my dental handpiece, I know that it won’t be the dollars that mattered most or that I am even likely to remember. It will be the six year-old who came back and gave me a hug after I finished her filling, or drew me a picture. It will be the young man who made a special trip back to my office one evening, just to take me aside and say “Thank you. You don’t know how much fixing my smile has helped my self-esteem.” It will be the young lady who gasped, and finally took her hand away from her mouth (after always covering it up), when I showed her her new smile. Okay, she cried, but she was really happy. That made me happy too. And so I smiled. In fact, when I think about those moments I still smile.
Smiling and kindness are the two “secret” weapons we have to battle the insanity surrounding us. I say, let’s use them as weapons of mass destruction. If destruction is to be the order of the day, then let’s destroy the pessimism, the fear, the cynicism, and the hatred. Think of it as a form of biological warfare. Wouldn’t it be great if smiling and kindness went viral?
If you are starting to think, “Oh, that sounds great, but it’s a little naïve,” then maybe the “Dark Side” is winning. I don’t think happiness is at all sentimental or corny. It is the pay we get for living.
People search for happiness their entire lives. Yet, someone much wiser than I once stated that all the happiness you will ever find lies within you. So why not start with a smile?
I hope you enjoy the following video. May it make you smile. 🙂 If it does, why not send it to a few friends?
Smile
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
(Performed by Nat King Cole)
