Smile

When you walk into a room and see the happy face, you just have to smile!

Have you ever noticed how good a smile makes you feel?  Whether you are giving a smile or receiving one - that warmth cheers your soul.  Cultivating good working relationships, personal relationships or simply “passing ships” is easier with a smile.  People gravitate to happy people, people who are carefree and who make others feel good too.  If you are having a bad day, smiling for the benefit of those you come in contact with has a tendency to make you feel better, too.

Our nearby convenience store changed hands many years ago.  The same man was at the counter nearly every day.  He worked long hours, spoke English with a heavy accent, and – in the beginning – always had a dour expression on his face.  My first reaction was negative, “How unfriendly!” I thought.  But I smiled at him anyway and thanked him for serving me.  The next time I went in was a repeat of the first time, but I thought about his job, and again I smiled.  After three or four more quick trips – amazingly – he smiled back! 

Today he smiles when I come in the door, he acknowledges me right away.  His eyes twinkle when he rings up my bread or milk, and he sometimes gives me a little bow!  I feel so good when he smiles at me.  It is my personal triumph.  I feel like I taught him how to smile.  I’ve stopped at that store when I really should have gone to the larger grocery store, just because I needed that smile.  I’ve never been disappointed.

Smiles probably influence the outcome of more personal and business contacts than we can imagine.  You never know the effect your smile might have on others.  Think of that eye contact and little curve of the corner of your mouth as an unexpected greeting card you are giving someone.  It says, “I like you.”  “You’re nice.”  “Thank you.”  “Feel better.” Or simply “Be happy.”

A smile isn’t only physical, it’s emotional.  It isn’t only visual it has an audio component.  Even when you can’t see the person who is smiling at you, you can hear the smile in their voice; the warmth comes through.  Smiling imbues words with energy that actually vibrates.  One of the most important things we can do for our customers and for the quality of our service is to smile for them.  Make the effort to smile, practice smiling at others; it will make everyone a little happier, including you.