"Show me that Smile Again"

I believe in the power of smiles. Ever since I can remember I have been told by my mother to, “Smile, put on a pretty face, and get that ugly look off your face.” Unfortunately people fail to realize that if you tell me to smile, not only will I smile, but I will smile the most insincere, “This is excruciatingly painful” smile you have ever seen. But it is the different types of smiles that I believe in. Happy, goofy, genuine, and my personal favorite, “the smile,” all have different effects.
I believe in goofy smiles. Some of the best moments of my life involve goofy smiles. Recently, I realized that when I am with my friends I always have on the most peculiar smile. You know what I am talking about, mouth wide open, eyes squished up with wrinkles; often times an odd sound coming out of the open mouth that some would call a laugh, and even drool sometimes if you are really happy. Goofy smiles always attract attention, not because they are funny looking, but because they are genuine. When I smile my goofy smile I am carefree, I am not worried about what I look like but caught up in the happy moment.

I believe in brave smiles. Smiles can showcase an emotion, but they can also conceal. I believe in the smile that I gave to comfort a friend suffering from a loss. When I knew nothing that I said could make it any better, I put on a smile. When they speak of their loss and hold back their tears as mine begin to stream from my eyes they put on that smile that says, “Everything is alright, and I will be alright.” I believe in the smile I gave to the person who broke my heart - The smile that seemed to keep my tears right on the edge of my eyes preventing them from pouring down my face was a brave smile. It was the smile that said, “You did not hurt me, you did not break my heart, I am moving on,” when inside I was broken into a million pieces. I believe in “the smile.” The smile you can only give one person. The smile only one person can make you give. The smile you give without realizing it. The smile you smile every time you look in their eyes. The smile you smile without worrying what is in your teeth, or if the freckle on you lip in inordinately noticeable today. I believe in the smile that makes your eyes sparkle and face glow. That smile, “the smile,” says nothing. It says absolutely nothing. “The smile,” only does. I believe in a smile that will warm the heart, the heart of the person who has the ability to make you give it.

I believe in the power of smiles.