Lately, it feels as though we’re living in a world of constant instruction.
Don’t do this.
Be careful of that.
Watch out for what’s “going around.”
This is contagious.
That’s contagious.
Apparently, everything‘s contagious!
Sometimes it feels as though if you so much as breathe at the wrong time, you’ll be frowned upon.
And yes, of course there are things we need to be mindful of, but I can’t help noticing just how often the conversation leans towards sickness, fear, and what we should be avoiding, rather than what we might actually have to offer one another.
And here’s my point…
Smiles are contagious too.
So is kindness and compassion.
And yet no one seems to be issuing daily reminders about those!
You won’t hear a warning announcement saying
“Please be advised-smiling at strangers may result in an improved mindset, unexpected happiness, and a slight lift to your day.”
No headlines declaring
“Kindness Spreading Rapidly- Experts Are Concerned.”
And maybe that’s exactly why we need to be talking about it!
A smile costs nothing,
It doesn’t require permission, a subscription, or perfect circumstances.
It doesn’t even need to be a big, beaming, toothy grin (especially before coffee-let’s be realistic!).
Sometimes just a small, gentle smile.
A quiet acknowledgement.
A moment of human-to-human recognition, can be surprisingly powerful!
Because a smile says…
I see you.
You’re not invisible.
We’re sharing this moment, no matter how brief it is-it’s connection!
And just like fear, it has power-and it spreads!
One smile often leads to another.
One small kind moment can quietly shift the tone of someone’s entire day.
So perhaps this coming week, instead of worrying about everything we’re told to avoid, we should experiment with something a little different!
What if we deliberately spread a little kindness instead?
What if we became quietly rebellious and allowed smiles, kindness, and compassion to become contagious?
No pressure.
No rules.
Just an invitation from me to you to give it a try.
It might be…
A smile for the shop assistant.
A smile for the neighbour you usually rush past.
Or even a smile for the part of yourself that’s doing its best in a somewhat crazy world.
Who knows it might just catch on!
And if kindness does start spreading…
Well… maybe that’s one less thing for everyone to worry about!
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
With warmth, love, and light Xx
This is so true, the other day walking around the village a lot of people actually smiled and said good morning and the same happened today it made me feel that things are good and it’s amazing what a smile can do. In this time of aggression and violent behaviour on our streets it has a calming and relaxing affect.
Hi Liz I think this is so true. I had an example this morning of a very small gesture which meant so much. I was doing a small job which clearly no one else wanted to do and an HCA walked by smiled and gently touched my shoulder. It just showed appreciation which was great and made me feel what I was doing was worth while. Thank you for reminding us it’s the small things that matter.