Monday, 02 September 2013 00:00

Happy Smiley People!

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Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
Thich Nhat Hanh

Many years ago, I got a bee in my bonnet to do a three month meditation retreat on Holy Island in Scotland. At the time I was living about two hours drive from Johannesburg and one day while in Joburg, I popped in at a travel agent to price air tickets to start saving for the trip. Some sort of instant karma kicked in, and two days later, I arrived, or should I say staggered, on to Holy Island, wondering 'what the bleep' just happened.

That first week was one of the toughest of my life. I arrived the day the group of retreatants decided to spend a week in silence. I was exhausted, shell-shocked, completely disorientated and way, way out of my depth. Being silent adds to the intensity of …well, everything and one day it all got on top of me. I fled my room hoping to out run my mind (which by the way, doesn’t seem possible), or the very least, escape myself for a bit. I'm digressing but please bear with me, there is a point to this little tale and it is coming soon!

Holy Island is a tiny, very beautiful island, natural, untouched and dedicated to World Peace. Simply being there restores and rejuvenates body and mind. Unfortunately, at the time I was too distraught to appreciate any of those qualities. I will never forget what happened next. There I was, standing in this magnificent place, feeling trapped and frantic when a monk walked past. We never spoke a word, but as he passed by, he smiled a warm and genuine smile right at me and it changed everything.

There are times when a smile can save your life, it brings light and warmth to dark places and reminds you of good things you may have forgotten. It is easy to underestimate the power of an open- hearted smile when words fail us.

Your homework for this week, and you can ask my clients, I am very strict about homework so you have to do it because I said so! Everyday this week make an effort to smile at someone who needs it. It doesn't matter if it is a stranger or a friend, open your heart and beam your best smile at them. The thing about smiling is that it's infectious and utterly irresistible. So off you go, get on out there and start smiling.  


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# Jennifer L 2016-08-08 06:01
I absolutely love this! I will make sure to do my homework (lol) and smile to at least one person, and to be in the moment as much as possible
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:35
Yay! Best homework ever. Love that you are willing to do it, Jennifer.
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# lex 2016-08-06 18:11
great post to inspire a few things in us in very big ways... i smile at people all the time but will do even more now for this has opened my eyes and mind to alot of things..
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:34
So lovely to meet a fellow smiler! I'm beaming a big one right at ya from South Africa.
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# Lizelle Cruz 2016-08-06 05:12
Great post!! We can never know how much a difference one smile can make to others
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-06 05:20
Especially to a lonely stranger, we really have no idea how powerful a simple smile can be.
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# Allison Lancaster 2016-08-06 04:51
I love this! I am going to take my homework seriously this week and take your advice.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-06 05:19
Fantastic, I'll do the same from my side of the globe and we can change the world one smile at a time!
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# Crystal 2016-08-05 16:45
What a great tale and lesson! I will make sure to smile at everyone I see today :)
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 17:15
Oh how wonderful to be sharing smiles!
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# Kelly Turpin 2016-08-05 12:51
Last year when my hubby and I were travelling through Vietnam he commented that "it was impossible to be upset or grumpy as everyone had a smile for you". It truly is not possible to not smile back... and that smile will lighten your mood!
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:21
We also travelled through Vietnam a few years ago, Kelly, and loved it. Smiles are amazing in any language!
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2013-09-02 20:31
Lovely! Your comment feels like a smile landed in my inbox. I've learnt a lesson, smiles can take so many forms, what counts most is that moment of connection.
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# Sonia 2013-09-02 13:01
I totally agree with this and I love to share a smile - especially with a stranger - never know what space they are in at the moment
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