Written by Mist
www.miistthesinger.com/podcast
Make me smile with mist Book link:
One day, as I was walking through the park with my family, an idea came to my mind. “We have forgotten what it means to be human.” I noticed that no one looked at each other. No one smiled.
When we say we have forgotten what it means to be human, it means we have forgotten what a truly special creation we are. We were created not just to live, but to enjoy life. What brings us the greatest joy is not what we receive, but what we give generously. A hug, a hug, a comforting voice, an encouraging word, or just a smile. We can just be friends and find joy in giving strength to those in need.
One of those small joys is a smile. Smiling is hardwired into our amazing psyche to provide endorphins, both when we laugh and when someone smiles at us. Our natural and reflexive response to a smile is to smile back. The positive emotions that a smile causes can really get you through difficult times.
Not smiling back at someone is a conscious decision, and we are literally fighting our muscles’ natural tendency to smile back. In today’s world, we have essentially trained ourselves do not have to Do something that is part of human nature. It’s pretty confusing when you think about it.
A smile is one of the most powerful and precious gifts we can give as humans, but we forget how to give it and freely accept it. We hoard them only for the most special occasions, as if there were only a limited number we could gift. We share them like reserved wine, only with close friends and family. Can you imagine what a difference it would make to our neighbors, cities, and families if we could smile indiscriminately and generously instead?
What would happen if everyone in the world started laughing at each other constantly? Do you think there would be fewer fights, arguments, and angry words? The answer is clearly yes. I would venture to say that anyone who disagrees with this is definitely not smiling enough.
After reading an article telling the story of a young man in Tokyo, I started thinking about how a simple smile could touch the hearts of so many lonely people. The man was found dead alone in his apartment. He was there for weeks. In Japan, as in other countries, this has become so common that it is known as “lonely death.”
I will never forget his story. I still imagine him walking down the street, hear the thousands of footsteps passing by, and wonder if anyone would bother to smile at him.
We see him walking through Tokyo’s crazy downtown streets, amidst the sounds of cars and buses, the smells wafting from restaurants, and the bright colors of neon signs. Millions of people walk past him.
I feel his pain when I look into people’s faces, hoping to see a glimpse of kindness or a smile. As my mind follows him, I imagine one or two people making eye contact and lighting a ray of hope within him.
As he imagines more and more people passing by, he yearns for more support to save his life.
This story inspired me to write the song “Could You Lend Me a Smile.” This song uses the sounds of cello and violin to express hope.
In my song, I imagine people’s attitudes changing and people coming to his aid in droves. Not just to help him personally, but to help all of us. They are standing up to change the way we live our daily lives and connect with the most basic human response: smiling.
After the second verse, I added background voices to express people’s whispers. Their voices are so faint that I can’t tell if they’re real or imaginary. Listening to them must be intentional.
Men feel it too. He dares to have hope, but he doesn’t know if it’s just in his imagination.
I imagine that man’s life would have turned out differently if just a few people had shown him kindness, fought his tendency to isolate and withdraw, and instead risked a smile. If he had received that most basic of support, he might have survived. So I asked myself if I wanted to be one of those people.
With this realization, my family and I decided to smile at everyone on our walks. Don’t look down at the sidewalk or avoid eye contact. Instead, we decided to intentionally look at everyone and smile whenever we could. Once I started smiling at other people, I sometimes saw the same people over and over again during one walk. People who ignored our smiles at first started smiling back at us the second or third time we met them.
It changed the way we live. And like many of the most basic human behaviors, I’m sure it helped us as much as it affected others, if not more.
Change the world in 15 seconds
The first 15 second tip is very simple but very powerful. It’s about intentionally smiling at the people you interact with today. Brighten their day and yours by looking them in the eye and giving them the beautiful gift of a smile from a stranger.
Count how many people you can smile at and notice their reactions. How did they react? How did it feel to smile at them?
Although the smile may never return, you You’ll still feel better. If you’re at work, smile at the person next to you. If you’re at a coffee shop, find another patron who will smile at you. If you’re alone, look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Please show lots of teeth. It’s okay if you look stupid.
It’s okay if someone, including yourself, thinks you’re a little crazy. At least they’ll remember the person who smiled at them, and maybe even smile at others. We are wired to release endorphins when we laugh. it gives us a good mood. So please give me a smile.
my 15 seconds
In each weekly podcast episode, I personally participate in the weekly 15 seconds of action I ask you to take. Throughout this book I’ll share a little bit about how I did it. Together, we can make the world a better place, 15 seconds of action at a time.
The 15 seconds of action in this episode had me smiling at my mom. I didn’t tell her why. She definitely thought I was crazy, but that’s okay.
Source: Spiritual Media Blog – www.spiritualmediablog.com
