The power of smiling :-)

Readers,

Life can be so busy, stressful and competitive. Keeping up with the Joneses is seriously hard work.

The problem with a life lived this way is that life's most precious treasures that money cannot even buy are neglected.

Have you ever stopped to think about how often you go out of your way to smile at someone who did not bother to smile at you?

It could be neglect to smile at your spouse as you leave the house in a hurry.

How about the shop keeper you buy your bus pass from?

The bus driver who drives you to work?

Your boss as you meet or is it almost always straight to business?

I think we all get the point. This blog entry is to serve as a reminder to myself first and then others that smiling is such an easy, free and beautiful gift that we can give away as often as we decide to multiple times a day.

It is such a blessing that the prophet Muhammad  (saww) famously said that smiling is an act of charity!

Who amongst us doesn't wish deep down in our hearts we had the inclination to give more away? Let us start by giving away our smiles and perhaps it will inspire further charitable activity from us.

Some people believe that due to the important nature of life, it is necessary to be serious. It is true that joking too much is disadvantageous, but smiling is not a sign of joking. It is a sign of mercy and compassion.

Let us try and remember how great we feel when someone smiles at us and try to share that feeling with as many of God's creation as possible.

I will end this with a quote that probably everyone has heard before because it is that good  :-)

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.