The Power of a Smile.
Every Sunday, I have a habit of going to the grocery store. Sometimes, it gets delayed to Monday; other times, my Saturday is open enough to go then. This past weekend, I went with my fiancé, Jack.
As we reached the checkout, we instinctively headed toward self-checkout—our usual routine. But this time, Jack chose a longer line, even though several self-checkout stations were open. As we stood there, the man in front of us caught Jack’s eye. We exchanged a simple smile and asked how his day was, and in return, he lit up, shared a joke or two, and carried on with his few bags of groceries.
Once we got to the car, Jack turned to me and said, “Think about that man’s life, Ashton. Going to the grocery store was probably the highlight of his week.”
I sighed and replied, “Stop. I know, I know… it makes me sad.”
But here’s the truth: He might be lonely. He might be the happiest he’s ever been. He might be going through a really hard time. The fact is, we will never truly know.
What we do know is how simple it is to smile at someone and ask how their day is. No matter how much work we have to do, how many errands we need to run, or how packed our schedules may be, there is always time to share a smile.
I often get so lost in the mountain I’m climbing—the mountain of life. We’re all navigating our own personal mountains, striving and pushing forward. But today, I want to remind you to pause.
Pause on the mountain. Take the drive to visit your parents or grandparents. Send that letter to a long-distance friend. Share a smile.
I promise—it will change lives.