Day 25. Reflections-5

 Smile is a simple gesture and human beings are uniquely endowed with this art to convey emotions. Though some of the animals are also showing smiles, in the absence of expertise, we are not able to comment.

Internet states some 19 types of smile of which 6 are only attributed to happiness. That   means majority of the smiles seen must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Be that the case, let us see the following poem.

A Smile by Anonymous

Smiling is infectious,
You catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,
And someone saw my grin,
When he smiled I realized,
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
Then realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine,
Could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
Don't leave it undetected. 
Let's start an epidemic quick,
And get the world infected.

We are in the midst of pandemic. It is spread by man and man is equally afraid of this also.

The only remedy to ease the situation is to create stress busters and smile is indeed one. But then people are not willing to show a smile.

In service institutions, I have come across plenty of counter staff(and, of course, executives even) with poker/deadpan faces. For them the masks must be a real boon!

I have  come across  even doctors who don’t smile at all while dealing with their patients. Patient is already scared while facing a doctor apprehensive of the diagnosis, and the doctor makes it worse by his demeanour.  Probably medical education may not be stressing on smile factor/quotient. Smiley anyway is of a recent origin.

Ditto in offices. Even a good morning is not reciprocated by many. But then they expect customers etc. are to be treated with politeness, warmth, smile etc. by employees, when those  traits are not  mostly seen among the working team.

That is why poems like these have great significance. Ultimately, we must recognize that human beings have similar aspirations. Like a child expects us to behave in a smiling manner. Not the way one conducts in a strategy meet.

Many are not able to switch off from the office mode, while dealing in society. Then a trend sets in. Later on, one has to resort to smileys and laughter club to detox. What a paradox indeed!

Be happy. Be safe.

7 A M