SMILE

“How to Win Friends and Influence People”,  written in 1936 by Dale Carnegie lays out 6 Principles to MAKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.  His  second principle is so simple:  SMILE.  On January 21, I heard Cary McBeth’s interview on Global news  talking about-  “a genuine smile given to a person exudes confidence.”  This leads to trust and engagement. (Very cool as I had this post about smiling already planned.)

LET ME GIVE A PERSONAL ILLUSTRATION

I learned this years ago in high school. I had 2 biology teachers. One was beautiful and youngish (40) the other homely and oldish (70).The younger one would smile as we entered her room and often laugh out right at our good natured antics. The older one was sour with a shriveled up face and absolutely never smiled! After some time I challenged myself to get her to smile. I would go up to her at the end of class, give her my most gentle smile and chat about the biology lesson. Sometimes a glimmer of a smile would sneak out of her tight wizened up lips. As I left I would engage her with eye contact, give her my biggest smile before turning my head to walk away. I repeated this action during the week. As a result, after the third time,  I saw a smile come to her lips as I approached her. Eventually I received a full blown smile. I also received my highest marks from that ‘oldish’ biology teacher. I realized later that she probably suffered from arthritis, and was in pain. This gave her a crippled, stiff look in her back and hands. I think she was tentative of getting a smart alek remark from a rude student. Her sour look was weathered into her face from pain and kids making fun of her.

QUOTING MR. CARNEGIE

“Your smile is a messenger of your good will. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl, or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds.  Especially when that someone is under pressure”…from bosses, customers, teachers, mean students….”a smile can help them realize that there is joy in the world.”

PRINCIPLE 2

“Be kinder (with a smile) than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”–J.M. Barrie

Principle 2    Smile

I look forward to sharing Mr. Carnegie’s  other 4 Principles in the next 4 weeks.

–Karen Moilliet January 22, 2020