Smile And The World Smiles With You

 Walking into my local Marks and Spencer’s today, I crossed paths with a lady shopping. I smiled warmly at her and she responded with a grimace. My first initial reaction was to judge her, calling her names like ‘miserable grumpy sod‘, and more inside my head. This was just an old memory being replayed, and within a few minutes I stopped myself in my tracks. It was not her job to make me happy; it was not her job to smile back.

I think many of us give to other people with conditions based on past programming, even when we don’t mean to. Life reflects what is taking place inside of us. It may not be an exact mirror but my expectation of a non-positive response, based on similar experiences in my past, gave me just that.

And so walking away from the experience, I sat by Gloucester Docks and did some Ho’oponopono, the ancient Hawaiian method of forgiveness, acceptance and love. I cleaned this judgement out of me and continued my walk into town.

I realised that all most of us want is to be seen and heard. Some are frightened of rejection so don’t put themselves out there with a smile in case it is rebuffed by a stranger. To give for the simple act of giving is something I am learning more about each day.

Make Connections With People

After an attitude adjustment, I walked into a new gift-shop in town that sells beautifully arranged, feminine, pretty gifts. I was overjoyed by the beauty and the obvious thought that had been put in to the shop. After a while of browsing, I locked eyes with the shop owner and struck up a conversation. What a gift to connect with strangers, embracing the world through another’s eyes. I complimented her beautiful shop, listened to the story behind its creation and left feeling uplifted by the connection.

As I walked a short way up the street I saw another new shop, a local resident running it and was so pleased to see the area opening up to independent shopping areas. I was beaming a big smile. As I continued my walk I looked to my left and saw this elderly gentlemen, dressed in his best suit, sitting outside a pub drinking a beer. He locked eyes with me and said loudly “SMILE AND THE WHOLE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU!” and “Money can’t buy you happiness!”.

I was wowed! Not having had a synchronicity of this kind in some time I knew it was a message to listen up. So I stood and listened to this wise stranger express his heart’s passion – making people happy!

He continued to tell me that too many people are unhappy, walking through the world with eyes turned down. I realised this is something I had noticed too. I am someone who possibly looks too many strangers in the eyes, but it’s just part of who I am. He explained to me how his family did not like him because of his positivity and how it takes no time at all to cheer someone up and that is what he likes to do.

Smile and the world smiles with you!