Day 191

I work hard at physical therapy. I sweat. I come home sore and smiling. Today I’ll begin with the exercises including the new one and that will get my system up and running. It’s writing group after senior center duty. I look forward to the gathering. It’s fun and growing closer. I have my two stories to share. Carol won’t be there as she is with Gene for tests and Karen is in Texas for the birth of her first grandchild.

Newsletter

One morning while waiting for the light to turn green, I noticed a homeless man waiting on the opposite corner. We met in the middle of the street and I smiled and said Good morning. He turned and began to walk with me. “Can you see me?” “Yes, I can see you.”” Can you hear me?” “Yes, I can hear you.” “You can see me and hear me.” “Yes, I can.”  I think I’m invisible.” “I guess everyone feels that way now and then”.” Do they pinch themselves?” “Maybe some do.”  “But you know I’m here.” “Yes. I know you are here.” He walked with me, rambling about a friend he hoped to see again and talked and talked. I turned toward him and said uh-hum often so he would know that I could see and hear him. “This is where I turn.” He smiled and said, “Now I don’t feel lonely.” He turned walked back the way he was going when we met in the street.

I carried that experience with me as I went through my day, smiling and acknowledging the people I met. I called the checker at the grocery store by name, smiled, and thanked her for her service. I was rewarded by her smile. I greeted everyone I had any interaction with that day by name when I could and thanked them or wished them a good day. I felt that it made my day better and brighter.  It has become a habit now.

The people who make commercials for television know that smiles sell. Behold, the sufferer with the furrowed brow suddenly breaks into a smile with the help of pharmaceutical products. I’ve noticed that their posture improves too. Do we need to pop a pill to feel like smiling? No. We just need to do it. There is evidence that smiles are contagious. One smile deserves another and that one goes out like dropping a pebble in a pond.

Back in 1900, French chemist Emile Coue told his patients to repeat: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” And they did get better and better. Other doctors shook their heads in amazement. Later this was called the placebo effect as it used the subconscious mind to convince the person of their improvement. It’s a simple health plan, along with smiling and feeling grateful, saying a mantra that encourages progress toward health is as near and easy to do as the intention to be well.
Note founr on the golden Gate Bridge said, "If one person smiles at me, no one will read this."