The Power of The Smile (by Billy the Kid)
Like many people, I am heavily covered with tattoos. But I also have my face tattooed. Tattoos have become part of the mainstream, but then there are still a few of us who can really turn a head or in some cases, scare the living Hell out of someone.
I live in Boulder, Colorado - a very liberal town with the richest of the richest and then there are the rest of us who live in the shadows of the rich
Now, I like good horror movies, but this lady had a look on her face as though she was seeing the devil himself! This all would have been quite funny had it been a movie, but after looking at me a bit she dropped her shoulders as if to surrender to me - that wasn't funny. And it sure didn't make me feel too good. I quickly smiled at her and said good morning out loud so that she could hear me well, and she nervously waved back to me.
A few days went by and I was out walking the dog again, and here came that little old lady, so I quickly smiled at her and showed a bit of excitement to see her. She approached me this time, and commented at how beautiful my facial artwork was. She has become a friend of mine now, who shares her experiences in life with me and often has me rolling in tears because of the funny things she doesn't understand about living in the Millinium. (My cell phone has her amazed and blown away! [One time] I got on the internet with her while standing next to a river - she kept saying, "It's like Star Trek!!" lol)
For my personal situation, I've found that you can semi- control how people first perceive you by simply smiling when I meet someone or make eye contact for the first time. Most people don't smile anymore anyhow. Show them an act of kindness and see how contagious in can truly be.
Comments
Along with “Please,” “Thank you,” and “My apologies,” a truly friendly smile with a warm “Hi” or “Hello” is one of the best social lubricants of all time - as the guy with the facial tats just found out. The true smile makes people want to be comfortable around that person. That little old lady probably looks forward to seeing you now. I’ll bet you make her day!
That is really something else. Where I live there are (for what i`ve seen) only two persons with a tatoo on their faces and people are usually really scared of them, when i come upon them i`ve seen a lot of people gone mindnumb. But I think they sort of get a thrill out of screing people, because they foment it a bit by sneering a lot, I`ts either that or else they tired of the reception to their artwork.
Please, thank you’s and apologies DO go a long way,……seems as though people have become afraid of being people. Love your neighbor,…see where it takes you.