I think a persons smile can often be the most defining thing about them. Do they smile with their eyes? Does it looks like it's literally hurting them to smile? Is their smile accompanied with a laugh? I can usually tell a lot by the way a person smiles at me. Sometimes it's more about what's being said behind the smile.
When I smile at a stranger, I am usually trying to let them know that I see them. I truly see them. I want them to know that as far as I'm concerned they exist in this world and they have a purpose. For some reason, it always deflates me a bit if I smile at someone and they just look through me with no expression.
When greeted by a love, I want to see the smile go all the way to the eyes like pouring a liquid in a cup. I want to know that things just got better for them because they "saw" me. When I see my great aunt, I want to see a smile of recognition. That..."hey! I know you" kind of smile. One I fear I will never see again on her face. When greeted by a child, I want to see the smile that sparkles and giggles. The one that says..."I'm so safe now."
One of the hardest things to do is smile through the pain. I know people that are professionals at it and I envy them. I try to do it, but I feel like I still have a sadness about me that I just can't seem to hide. I also know people who may not even know how to smile. I recently met a man, who I didn't know for long, that never really smiled. I can vaguely remember him half way smiling, but more like he was disgusted with something, more than likely me. I can remember him often asking me..."What are you smiling for?" I was smiling because I thought I was happy.
Recently, speculation, fear, uncertainty, sorrow, emptiness, anxiety, and disappointment have been lingering behind my smile. I choose to keep smiling though because I may encounter someone that needs someone to smile back at them.
"Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile." ~Author Unknown
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