Counting Smiles

I think I smiled too much that week.

No.

Wait.

Is that possible?

My cheeks hurt from all the smiling and laughing. That’s how I am counting from now on. I’m counting smiles.

Like most of you, I’ve known sadness and despair all too well. I considered them my best friends.

Meet my new friend…Hope. Actually, Hope is an old friend. We lost touch for a while but thankfully we’ve renewed our friendship.

I’m not really counting on hope or anyone for that matter. That’s just a cluster-mishap waiting to happen. They all let you down – though sometimes unintentionally – the end result is not what you wanted, expected or hoped for. Often times you just have to count on yourself.

I received a phone call that made my day. A “blast from the past” they used to say. Someone I had a really good relationship with and miss every Monday through Friday. It made me smile. I had to shut my office door to take this call. I could feel my cheeks begin to tingle as a slight smirk turned into a wide smile. I thought the corners of my mouth might bleed.

Some people you just miss.

That same week, perhaps even the next day, I received a call from a co-worker (off site) needing some help with a minor issue. Turns out I helped him a few months back. I didn’t remember. Everyday is a busy blur.

A couple days later, I was standing at a co-worker’s cubicle when a man said to me, “Thanks for your help the other day.” I had seen this man a few times before. We even had a couple of brief conversations. I had no idea he was the same guy who called seeking my help to resolve an issue. Sometimes it makes you smile just to put a face with a name.

He was smiling.

Another co-worker, whose cubicle we happened to meet at, asked him if he needed anything else.

He didn’t and he left. Smiling.

My co-worker turned to me and said, “People like you. That’s good.” (You should only know how a certain department cringes when I call. How that same department prefers to talk over me (and everyone else) rather than actually help, assist or fix any issues you have. How they prefer to talk “above” us and YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE THAT? )

But I digress…

We were talking about smiles.

I smiled realizing these two guys were one in the same. I smiled that my co-worker thought everyone liked me (they don’t, of course, because you can’t please everyone. I realize that long ago and I’ve long since given up even trying). I smiled when my old acquaintance called me. I also smiled when someone very important, while on their cell phone, stopped, smiled and waved at me as he walked in. I did the same. He didn’t have to.

I smiled when my friendlet me help bottle feed the rescued baby kittens.

I smiled when I was asked to take over a project because the person who was supposed to handle it was “overwhelmed.”

I smile when my friend calls me to commiserate about our work life once being “ADULT DAY CARE” and now being a something that resembles PRISON.

We see and encounter so much negativity in life. Sometimes you just have to smile to change the course. Now, let’s be real. This isn’t always effective. But you see, that’s when you kill them with a smile and with kindness. And even if it annoys them, well, that’s just a bonus. Breathe it in and take its power.

I watched the CAVS game the other night and actually most of the season. I am so proud of them. All the undercuts and snide remarks and still, they RISE UP. LeBron was the brunt of a myriad of cheap shots - personally, professionally and physically. It was tough to watch and hear for me. It had to be tough on him. But you would never surmise that because he is one class act. Our CAVS are a class act.

They aren’t just fantastic – they are phenomenal and impressive. Their actions spoke louder than any words.

The Sports page (of the Plain Dealer) spoke volumes. The photo of LeBron and Daniel, the photo of Wally – all smiles. As much as I love “nothin’ but net, “ I love “nothin’ but smiles” all the more. Feel it. Taste it. Breathe it in.

Let it out in the form of a smile. Let it spread across your face until it hurts. It’s all good.

It speaks volumes.

No words required.

So count how many times you smile tomorrow. Let me know.
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.