You're Welcome for the Smile
I've been told two very different things. "Smiles are free. You could brighten someone's day!" And, "You don't owe anyone a smile." I've always held that smiling at people, even complete strangers (just not in a city on a busy street because that is honestly a little weird), is a good thing. It spreads happiness and kindness. But now I see that there is truth in both. It's nice to smile, but you certainly aren't entitled to my happiness. I like smiling. I try to smile at everyone that I see, especially if I know them, whether it be an acquaintance or one of my best friends. Now, I may not always recognize people right away, and that is certainly not a reflection on my relationship with that person. I get lost in thought a lot. I imagine conversations with friends, names for future pets, lines for stories that go unwritten. It's easy to see why sometimes faces become a blur. But I still try to give a little smile (I'm not the most