Wednesday, Dec 25 2024  

SMILE - 06 FEB 2012

What is a smile? Wouldn't it feel good to smile and to have someone smile at you? You will realize that smiling can be quite contagious. When someone smiles at you, you have no choice but to smile back at that person. When we see Swami smile we feel so happy and if Swami smiles at us, we feel like we are at the top of the world.

Scientifically it is known that we use more muscles to frown than to smile in the face. So to frown is a waste of energy. Too much frowning leads to wrinkles on the face and makes us look older. Laughing, smiling and being happy are known to produce certain hormones in our body that help us stay healthy.

Before we can smile, we first have to feel happy within. How can we feel happy? My parents and gurus tell me that we can always be happy if we constantly thank God and be grateful for what we have.

To smile, we must have love in our heart. Swami says "START THE DAY WITH LOVE, FILL THE DAY WITH LOVE AND END THE DAY WITH LOVE. THAT IS THE WAY TO GOD." If we can practice this, we will certainly be smiling all day through!

At home, I can be quite grumpy at times and with this theme on SMILE, I have to try my best to smile more and frown less. I know that when I smile and talk pleasantly to people, it makes them happy. However, when I am angry and speak rudely, my family members get upset. I know I have to put in that special effort to smile and make the world smile with me. Mother Theresa once said "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." She also said that peace begins with a smile.

Now let's see what Swami has to say on Smile.
Swami says, "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 can get along without it. And none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the counter-sign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and it is Nature's best antidote for trouble, yet it 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 as much as he who has no more to give."

JAI SAI RAM

Bro PRAJESH PATEL
Group 2