Smiling

We never really know what is going on in someone’s life on any given day. With so much negativity in the world these days, it seems problems and feelings just seem to pile up higher with each day. A philosophy I adopted, maybe 9 or 10 years ago if I recollect, is fake-it-til-you make it.

By that I mean, I smile at people and sometimes even to myself in a way, even if I don’t feel like it. I have found that even if I don’t have anything to smile about, or just plain feel grumpy on any given day, that if I just smile eventually, it will turn genuine.

You probably wouldn’t be able to tell, or maybe you can by looking at me, that I have many problems. But I do, mostly physical. God fills my heart with an abundance of love most days. I say ‘most days’ because sometimes I just don’t allow it for whatever reason.

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. I was diagnosed maybe 30 years ago, but after looking back in the past, now that I know what it is, I believe I have had it since I was maybe 12 or 13. A.S. strikes most in their teens but I was never diagnosed. This is an extremely aggressive disease that makes my immune system attack my own body. Mostly my joints.

There have been times when I could barely walk out of a store to my truck. When I get home from long drives to away games, I limp from my truck into the house, thankful for the darkness and the fact I live out in the country. I shouldn’t be embarrassed but as the disease presses on, my back will continue to curve and I will continue to walk weirdly and my body will continue to be my prison.

Right now, my A.S. is attacking my neck, hips and back. People with A.S. call these ‘flares.’ They last anywhere from a week to years. My last big flare lasted almost a year, and by the end of the flare I was hobbling out of my job at the time - Home Depot. I would have to explain that no, I did not get hurt and explain my condition repeatedly several times a week. During a flare I usually get about 3 to 4 hours of sleep at night which turns me into an emotional wreck.

I don’t let you in on my problems for pity; I decided long ago that I would not let this disease define me as a person. I do tell you this because everyone has something they live with. It could be mental or physical and they hide it so well you may never know anything is going on with someone until after they are gone. Some may not be able to hide their physical or mental issues.

The point being that something so small as a smile can change a person’s day completely. I know this because I have been a person smiling and I have had days where a smile has changed my day. It works. It does not cost a thing to give the gift of a smile. The same can be said of giving kindness. It costs nothing to be kind or share a word of encouragement. You may never know if the act of a smile or kindness helped or not.

Do it anyway. Trust me, it helps.

This is Will B. saying smiles are free, pass them out liberally!