At first, I wasn’t sure how to use it. A handshake made sense, but how many people do I actually shake hands with in a span of a day?
So then I thought, how about just in the tilt of my head? When I’m ready to dispense my magic, I’ll just tilt my head and ta da –magic completed.
But no, I decided, too impersonal and detached. Same with my rather whimsical idea of wrinkling my nose aka Samantha in “Bewitched.” When I’m ready to bestow this newfound magic, I need to do it up front and personal. I was rather proud of my new powers, so I wanted to share them in as pleasant and friendly a way as possible.
So my smile became the vehicle for my magic.
Before describing these magical powers, I should explain how I obtained them. Well, I wish I could. I went to bed one night, crabby and disillusioned with the world. Life is such a joy and a privilege, why, I wondered, did people take it on as a chore and a bore? I had had it with unhappy, unpleasant human beings.
I thought about what a coup it would be if I could somehow change people’s perspective. Let them see the colors instead of the black and white; the rainbow instead of the rain; the butterflies instead of the cocoons.
I woke up the next morning with the power. How did I know I had it? Another good question. I just knew. And once I decided how to use it, the best day of my life began.
I drove to the local cafe, as usual, and ordered my double non-fat latte with foam, double cupped, no top. Joe, the scar-riddled, gray-faced man behind the counter, looked at me as he always did at 6:45 on Monday mornings and said, as he always did, “We don’t double cup.”
“Beautiful morning,” I replied, as I always did.
“How would I know, I’ve been here since 5 o’clock,” he grumbled back, as he always did.
Then it happened. I smiled. He looked at me as if he’d been slapped with a feather. He gazed out the large window in the front of the store and nodded his head. “You know, it is a beautiful morning. The sun came up in lavender, pinks, and blues today. An amazing sight.”
Then he double cupped my latte, smiled at me as if he meant it, and said, “Have a great day.”
I bounced out of there with a song in my heart. Yeeeessssss. I drove to my job, thinking of all the people I would smile at. They’d be hit hard. No longer would they find something wrong with their boss or their spouse or their kid or their car or their bus commute or their tight pants or their broken fingernail or their crab-grassed lawn. They would have to see the beauty in every single blooming thing in their life. They’d feel joy. They’d feel love. They’d see the light instead of the dark.
I looked at myself in the car’s rearview mirror and smiled. Gazaam! The song “Good Morning Starshine” came bursting out of my mouth, and I knew I had been blessed with something more powerful than power.
I had magic – in my smile.
Thanks to Google Images. Except for the sunrise. The sunrise is all mine.
Your smile must work from a great distance too Pamela, as soon as I saw it was a post from you I smiled. A little bit of sunshine in a grey North Wales day.
Now I’m going to apologise to you. I’d forgotten just how good Oliver’s song was so I’m going to pinch it for my weekly blog if you don’t mind.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
I have done my job here if I’ve spread smiles AND Oliver’s song! Can’t wait to see it over on your side of the pond. xoxsmilethroughthegrayhugoxoxo
I look forward to your writing each Friday morning! Your images are so descriptive I actually can picture them in my mind. Smiles are contagious! We need to spread them everyday! Our world would be a happier place if more people just “turned up their lips”.
And you, my Lyco friend, have a smile that brightens the world.
Understand this completely! The other day two rough looking (not rough wighting!) boys walked in front of my car and they looked at me like, ” you got a problem with us walking here?” I stopped and smiled at them and they just smiled back and then waved like they knew me. It could have gone a whole different direction!
I can just see this scary/weird/turnedsunny scene. Yikes! Smiles even save our skin, so to speak!!!
Your magic worked on me, too, Pamela. I know you won’t mind if I try that magic on others. Thanks for the morning reminder that life is good!
I’m sure you spread smile magic wherever you go! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I love to smile at strangers, Pam. Some return the smile, while others give you an odd look. Either way, I feel good. 🙂
I kind of feel sorry for the people who find a smile from those they don’t know intimidating or strange. I definitely get the odd look now and then from those I smile toward. Oh well (shrug). 🙂
Amazing how I began smiling as soon as got into your star-shining post. Such a small thing but so powerful. You’ve made my day. Hope next time you need it, someone will make yours. Happy Friday. 😀 😀 😛
I’m ALWAYS happy to get a smile. You’re right, it’s amazing how much a smile from a friend or a stranger can change a day from gray to bright. Also, have you noticed how some not particularly attractive people become beautiful when they smile? I love that.
Yes, I have noticed, but I have also seen it go the other way around, which feels odd. How can a smile ruin the look of a gorgeous human?
As corny and cliche as it sounds, we all have that magic inside of us. It’s those chosen few (winking in your direction) who realize it, use it, and cast their spell on others that helps create a wave of happiness, joy, and gratitude that can’t be ignored. Thanks for sharing Pamela – in so many different ways 😉
Well, thanks for the wink (and the smile!). Yes, for something so easy and free, you’d think more people would use their gift of a smile more often!
It comes as no surprise to me that your smile works magic. What does surprise me is that you would exploit your smile to waste coffee cups! For shame!
Would I bring a smile to your face if I explained I re-use those cups all the time? I promise!! 🙂
😃
You DO have a magic smile, Pamela, and I would love to have seen Joe’s transformation. And I loved being reminded that I, too, have that magic power! Smiling, just thinking about it!
But I have NO DOUBT Elizabeth that you use your gorgeous Virginian smile often, and to great reward. xo
Love this. A smile really does have a lot of power. Unfortunately, it’s more difficult for introverts to pull this off. Our faces tend toward flatness. We have to remind ourselves to lift those lip corners! So here’s one for you now: 🙂
Thank you for that gorgeous smile, Carrie. And you bring up an excellent point. Sometimes I get upset at a person who looks at me with a flat neutral face without acknowledging my presence with even a slight upturn of the lips. But I should realize that shyness and being an introvert can cause one to not be forthcoming with a greeting. And heaven knows, I’ve done that more than once myself, since I sometimes need to hide in my own little ‘intro’ shell.
You are so right…there is infinite magic in a smile. It can transform both the giver and the receiver! 🙂
Smiles ‘transform both the giver and the receiver’ –Just like your fun posts do – that is, transform your reader into a smiling laughing hahahah.
Aw, thanks so much. I try!
What a lovely piece! Never underestimate the magic of a smile. Even just smiling to oneself in the mirror causes great bursts of positive emotions. And the spread is contagious if we smile to others.
I think smiling at ourselves (in the mirror, for instance) may be the HARDEST smile to pull off, and yet, as you suggest, may be the most important one.
Wonderful post! I promise to smile more. (I’m already working on being a lighthouse – I’ll combine that with a 300 watt smile!)
Hey, when we’re lighthouses and light up the world with our smiles, the world is our oyster!! Right?? 🙂
I love to smile, Pam. It’s infectious! It’s magic! You made me smile with this post 😀
You just made me smile with your comment!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Loved this smiley, upbeat post. Have a great weekend!
I can’t help it – smiley upbeat posts keep the magic going inside me. ❤
Love that- magic in your smile and transforming the world with your powers, Pam. Makes me think of a teacher of mine, Camille Maurine” who talks about creating your own atmosphere and breathing in that as you walk in the world.
Whoa – I love your teacher Camille’s attitude. Breathing in the happiness of living in a world where people SMILE at each other, and feel the love. ❤
I just smiled at the French baker and it worked. He was friendly or he thought I was a lunatic. No smiles for the driver of the van that drove us from the airport trying to suffocate us by not turning the air conditioning on. Have a great weekend.
HaHa. Sounds like the van driver did not deserve the beauty of your smile. But I bet more of Paris is smiling now, with your presence!!
Smiles ARE magical and can disarm even the grumpiest! Good Morning Starshine is on my ipod playlist!
Good Morning Starshine plays on my IPhone every time a family member calls me. Brings a SMILE to my face every time. :+)
Absolutely love this post! I am also a fan of Oliver’s song, “Good Morning, Starshine.” I could see this as being “The Invention of Smiling,” which it would be a play on “The Invention of Lying.” Did you ever see this witty but sweet movie with Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner.
I just put the movie “the Invention of Lying” on my ‘bucket list’ of movies to watch. Thanks! A book or movie about what happens in people’s lives, as soon as they smile more at others, could be a fun one, couldn’t it?
Smiles can make anyone’s day better! Truly magical.
Thank you!
I often smile at strangers in the grocery store especially when it’s crowded and busy. Amazing how many people will smile back.
A smile carries a great deal of power! I’m glad you shared this story. It’s a wonderful one. 😀
Oh, yes, and I didn’t really mention this in my magic story. Smiles are a hidden power so much more significant than power from intimidation or fear. Thank you!!
If we are not creating magic for each other, then goddess knows where it is going to come from. Not waiting for Prince Charming. Being the magic. I love it!
So many don’t understand that the magic is within them, always. You bring your magic to us in your Nia classes…in turn helping us feel the magic inside. xo
Great post Pam. 🙂 there’s a lot of truth in this. a smile can really brighten someone’s day. Here’s to happy days!
To happy days, sweet poems, and the glory of marvelous art. Love your blog!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Use that magic, spread it far and wide, for a smile in the US can turn into a crowd of voices raised in joyful song by the time in reaches the UK and uplift a thousand spirits, for like the proverbial butterfly that flaps its wings into a tornado, the magic of a smile is much, MUCH bigger than we could ever imagine (even those of us with plenty of imagination to spare 🙂 ) Beautiful post my friend 🙂 Hugs, H xxx
Your words soothe me, smooth out the edges of a long day, and – yes! – bring a smile to my face. ❤
The great thing is a smile is unspoken, but it speaks volumes.
Good point – a smile is soundless, yet look at its power. Looking forward to seeing your smile again soon, Armine.
Love this post! You made me smile 🙂
❤ carmen
Thank you! To red and white and smiling all over… 🙂
Yes, a smile is amazing magic.
Smiling as we write…work…LIVE.
Fantastic! And the best part is that the power is contagious, spreading through the world!
So easy, yet so few follow those directions. Just S M I L E!
What amazing power a smile possesses, and it spawns such contagious happiness. I love the idea of being slapped with a feather – picturing that made me smile!
I love it when I’m writing and just the right expression pops in my head. Slapped with a feather was just such an example. Sounds rather enticing, doesn’t it? 🙂
This made me smile Pam 🙂 It reminded me of the old Cliff Richard film ‘Summer Holiday’ which starts in rainy, monochrome 60’s London only to suddenly burst into joyous colour and song.
What a great power to have Pam, thanks for spreading a little of it over here too 🙂