I’m writing this post as part of Pavarti K. Tyler’s fantastic Celebrating Community Blog Hop, which has looked at everything from what community means, to favourite recipes, to community/family snaps. Today, it’s all about sharing happiness.
How Do You Share Happiness?
For me the most effective way of sharing happiness has always been one simple action: smiling. I’ve been told off for smiling too much. My parents worried when they saw me smiling/waving at passing cars:
“Please tell us you don’t do that when you’re on your own?”
“Yes, I like waving and smiling at people.”
Well, sadly we live in a world where it’s nice to share a smile but perhaps not entirely appropriate to do it on every occasion.
A former boyfriend:
“Why did you smile at that man on the bus? Did you know him?”
“No – I just like to smile at people. It spreads a little joy.”
“There are people who could take that completely the wrong way!”
My habit of smiling at people as they board a bus has not been broken I’m afraid!
The truth is, a smile connects people; however briefly, two people share something uncomplicated, a moment of happiness. You may never see that person again but for a fraction of a second, their life was a little brighter. Who knows – you might have turned around a bad day. You might have made someone realise they weren’t alone.
Or you might just be the strange lady on the bus, always smiling, smiling, smiling…
About the Author:
By day a publicity assistant, by night an avid blogger and reader. I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by books and cats, with my husband by my side. Luckily, that's a pretty apt description of most days!
Donna Brown – who has written 619 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
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Aug 19, 2012 @ 16:49:51
I don’t think it’s so much the smiling or even the eye contact as simply being acknowledged. Glasgow is known as “the friendly city’ so it’s not unusual for some wee biddy to spark up a conversation with you at a bus stop or in the queue at the butcher’s but where I noticed it was early in the morning trudging to work; I’d pass some bloke I’d never seen before (obviously a fellow grunt like myself) and we’d say “Mornin’” to each other or to be totally honest we’d grunt something that sounded vaguely like we were belching (‘Hiup’) but the important thing was we’d acknowledged each other’s existence and that was all that was needed. I’d feel daft smiling at another man in the street. Dogs, cats, babies, little old ladies and that’s me. I’m not well known for my smile in fact my wife pointed out recently that the only photos I own where I’m smiling are ones where I’m with my daughter and I’ve been caught off guard.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 10:24:30
Thanks for commenting Jim.
I agree that acknowledgement of some kind is always a good thing, even if it doesn't come with a smile. The sense of community seems to be missing these days. Growing up I remember being friendly with everyone on the street but in recent years the places I have lived the neighbours have remained complete strangers no matter how long I have lived somewhere.
Aug 19, 2012 @ 19:36:47
You can never smile too much. Until your cheeks get sore. Then it may be time to take a break.
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Aug 20, 2012 @ 10:25:22
Good point Amanda :)
Aug 20, 2012 @ 01:46:37
I'm glad you smile! Too many people don't. My husband always laughs at me for talking to everyone. But the fact is that I make friends everywhere I go and am blessed to have made some life long friends this way. Keep smiling. I promise, I'll smile back :)
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Pavarti K Tyler recently posted..Happiness is a box of hugs!
Aug 20, 2012 @ 10:26:36
Thanks for commenting Pavarti. I think I'm more like your husband but I admire people like you that make friends so easily. I agree we all need to keep smiling and try harder to be friends with one another. Life is too short not to be those things.