Random Smiling in Public
Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love,
a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
~Mother Teresa
A smile costs nothing but gives much.
It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give.
It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it
and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it.
Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen,
for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.
Some people are too tired to give you a smile.
Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much
as he who has no more to give.
~Author Unknown
I wanted to post every quote from this page, but I felt the above two quotes most eloquently expressed everything I hoped for with this past week's challenge.
Did you step outside of your own world, look someone in the eye, and give them a genuine light-filled smile this past week?
Did they smile back? Did it affect your own attitude, outlook, or focus? Do tell!
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Next week's living. lovely. challenge:
Reclaim a spot in your home
for beauty and/or function.
Do you have a spot in your home that used to be pleasantly functional, that now is a disaster?
It can be small (a junk drawer) or large (the spare room). I know I have several.
Let's reclaim one of those spots this next week!!
(May I request before and after photos?!)
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful,
or believe to be beautiful.
~William Morris
Oh, Heidi, what great quotes! Especially that second one, the "author unknown" one-- it's *fabulous*! Thank you so much for passing it (them) along~
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day :)
I finally finished up my lovely list (on canvas),and you can see part of it here--->http://hopeistheword.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/lovely/
ReplyDeleteLove this new challenge, too--I have lots of places in my home that need reclaiming!
I try to make it a practice to smile at people when I'm out and about. It does make such a difference in what sometimes is a chore--running errands, etc.
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteYou must come and visit the south, particularly my home state of Alabama. It is a simple southern etiquette to smile and say, "Hi, how are ya?" when you walk past any and every one. And consequently, growing up my Mama knew the bank teller, grocery store clerk, and sales lady at our favorite department store- each very intimately. Because many times those greetings lead to friendships. At my alma mater, Auburn University, there is actually a "Hey Day". But that day is no different than any other. Also, in rural areas, you wave, at least a few fingers from the steering wheel if not the entire hand, when your car passes another car. Or, the men tip their hats. And if you are in the yard, you can expect a honk and a wave by drivers. It's just a slower paced, friendly way of life. I think you would fit in quite nicely! :) I miss Alabama often!
Hmmmm. . . I'm an Alabamian. Maybe that's why smiling is a part of what I do daily anyway! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget a story my cousin told me of when she was visiting some town in Maine and she smiled at a person walking down the street and they said, "You're not from around here, are you?" Wow.
ReplyDeleteI FINALLY got my post up :)
http://mollythepirate.blogspot.com/2009/09/random-smiles.html
Heidi, I have been spending hours catching up on all of your former posts for the 3 weeks we were gone and couldn't bring up our computer- we needed something to plug in or something. You have so many good ideas and suggestions - I even concentrated on trying to smile at everyone when I was out today. Melody and I have been trying to use our "good" dishes just for family more often. We just have to keep them more accessible to make it easier when we are in a hurry, which seems to be most of the time. Thanks for all the inspirations. I read in the"comments" I am not alone. Grandma
ReplyDeleteI always smile at people when walking around and often say, "Hi" and ask how they're doing today, or make some comment about the weather, but then, my family is from the south so I guess that's where I get it from...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I find that if I'm polite and nice to people they almost always respond with the same. And I think this is especially important with kids. I live next to an elementary school that teaches a lot of lower income kids... these kids act as if adults are only there to yell at them, so when I say "Hi" or ask, "How are you today?" they're often shy in responding, but they eventually open up. Who knows, maybe they think I'm that crazy lady in the neighborhood, but some of the kids now smile at me first, and they'll even coo and say "hi" to my baby when we're out walking the neighborhood. Now THAT makes me smile.