Smile

[vespachica]

At the request of therealljidol, this week's subject is: smile!

I have thought of different approaches to this topic over the past few days. I thought, at first, I should write about my kids' smiles. Perhaps I could wax nostalgic on their first smiles. Nah... lots of people will write about that. I then thought about what makes me smile and how I could go on and on about that. Again, I'm sure that'll be a subject for many people. In the end, I arrived at what fills my heart the most: how I make other people smile.

Making others smile is one of my life's goals, I'm certain of it. If someone at work is down I do my best to make them grin like a fool just by talking to them. If that doesn't work, perhaps sending them a good joke via email will do the trick. Eventually, I find most people will warm up and at least give me a wan smile. That's good enough if they're really down. Don't mistake this for clowning or insensitivity. I just want to cheer them up a bit. And I definitely try to empathize with people and lend an ear. In fact, I'm sure my employer would say that I lend too many ears and listen/talk with too many people during the workday!

The other thing that I love to do to make people smile is cook. Most of the cooking I do is not necessarily for self-satisfaction but to see the expressions on people's faces. The reward I reap from cooking is hearing and seeing satisfaction from others. This is fairly narcissistic, I suppose, because I feel such a great sense of pride whenever someone really loves what I have whipped up in the kitchen. If someone moans in ecstasy that makes it even better!!

I love seeing smiles on people's faces. The only step I haven't taken is being someone who is so open with strangers that I can make them smile as well. Perhaps I should try!

Comments

[stormkitty.livejournal.com]

I've always enjoyed having people who are like you (in making people smile) in my life. There are days that the people in my life who could make me smile pulled me out of deep doldrums.

[shadowwolf13]

I like you! :D

[impoetry.livejournal.com]

I like this. Love your outlook on it. We have a lot in common when it comes to delivering smiles.

[battle-kitten.livejournal.com]

Nice take on the topic and I do the same thing: I love making people smile :)

[soundscool1.livejournal.com]

A bright smile is the very reason I always try to find the perfect gifts for people for Christmas. I just love watching people as they discover what's inside.

[onda-bianca.livejournal.com]

Making people smile is lovely indeed. :)

[dreamchaser.livejournal.com]

There's something about food that makes people smile :)

[plastrickland23.livejournal.com]

You are putting good Karma out there in the Universe. Good for you! P.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Making someone smile is a good thing. And good food always makes me smile!