Smile - It Works!

24. Smile

“A smile can be the single most effective ice breaker, and it costs nothing.”

-Rudnesky   

A simple smile can make a difference in someone’s day. If you make a positive difference in someone’s day, I guarantee it will come back to you in a positive way. A smile can also let people know you are a part of them. And a smile beats a frown any day.

Our school starts with grade five. The fifth graders coming up to our school are naturally apprehensive and sometimes scared. On the first day of school several years ago, I noticed a fifth grade girl walking up to our school. I noticed her because she was walking with a limp, and she was a lot slower than the rest of the group. The reason she limped was because she was born with a birth defect.

As I approached the girl, before I could open my mouth, she looked up and smiled. I smiled back and introduced myself. That girl gave me hundreds of smiles over the next several years. Many times when I need that extra boost, I think of that girl’s smile, and it makes me smile. Then my smile makes someone else smile and so on and so on. Wow, this is a simple thing that makes such a positive difference in your ability to lead. Try it!

I met another fifth grader in our school that has an infectious smile. As a matter of fact, some people call her “Giggles”. She is now in eighth grade, and every time I have seen her over the last four years, I could not help but smile.

A few months ago, I noticed her smile was not there. We all soon found out she has leukemia. During her first round of chemotherapy, she was in the hospital for about a month. When I talked to people in our building, I found that her smile genuinely touched everyone over the years.

I visited her recently when she was in the hospital. The first thing I saw when I walked into the room was that smile. It was back! Such a young person has made such a big difference with something everyone has but everyone does not use. Try it!