Name one thing you feel brings out the good in people.

This is going to sound cheesy as hell. I beg you not to hate me, particularly since I believe this very, very firmly….

A laugh and a smile.

Yes, the pair combined.

Obviously of the pair can do wonderful things, but put them both together and you’ll be surprised at what you get out of people. Face to face, across the phone, it all works.

Did you know that you can hear a smile? Did you? That if you are smiling, it comes across in your voice far better than anybody (except perhaps the most talented of actors) is able to recreate? Its automatic. A real smile leads to real warmth and people can feel that when you talk to them. Laughing only makes it that much better and such a thing really does have the power to heal.

Something so simple as a laugh and a smile, can lift people out of a dark place. It can give hope to those who have been stuck without those human rights (yes, I feel they are human rights) so long that they forget what they feel like.

Have you ever felt so low, so down, that nothing was going to help you? I have. I went for a walk that day; just a short one but it took me through vast crowds of people. I kept my pace fast and my head down, trying to work off some of what I was feeling. It didn’t work. I stomped all the way back home (full prepared to let rip at my house mates) and was almost onto my street when somebody bumped into me. They excused themselves. I looked up. They smiled and then laughed! Just a small chuckle – not malicious or vindictive or anything like that. It was an embarrassed titter.

But it lit me up. I could feel it. Something inside swelled like a flower and I found myself smiling back! It didn’t solve the problem – of course it bloody didn’t! – but it made me feel better about finding ways to solve it. Bringing that smile to my face, and matching that titter – a nervous reflex, but a laugh nonetheless – woke me up, shook me and reminded me that things could have been a lot worse.

And fuck yeah; was I right about that. Lol, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs since then, but something that I always try to reminder is to smile and laugh. If I can’t do both… at least one. If frees me up to do better things and I’m sure it does the same for others too.

Hmm… have I drifted from the point there? Perhaps slightly. But I still feel pretty good right now. 😀

 

My 80 Post Challenge is brought to you with help from Tom Slatin’s 80 Journal Writing Prompts.