The aroma from my hot cup of Bru (Indian brand coffee) tells, “A new day of life awaits your arrival”. It sets the tone for my mood. I cut my favourite fruits into small cubes, while mother packs lunch for Adil and me. Feeling fresh, I get dressed up to look as pretty as possible. After the goodbyes, I head to the bus stop. Excitement begins anticipating and makes life much thrilling. But, the enthusiasm does not last long. One glimpse of the bus stop is good enough to start the fading process. The minute I board the bus, I feel like a cartoon whose colours have been drained away. I stand among a bunch of people who emit gallons of grouchiness.
I understand. It is frustrating to drag ourselves to work. We leave behind our peaceful mind and rush to spend the rest of the day in front of a laptop screen. We wish we could extend the sleep till the sun sits on its throne. And, it’s even worse for the mothers who have to get the children to school and the fathers who have to get ready in the midst of the chaos at home. I understand. And, it does not end there. The irritation continues when we have to squeeze ourselves in the bus among others who share the same pain.
I cannot spell out a solution to mend the morning mess (if that is how it appears to be). Actually, the solution could be right in front of you, waiting for you to embrace it. But I have a suggestion; a fairly simple one that could help. Try it. It could make the morning a little better.
Smile.
And for those who have forgotten,
Smile is "a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval…” ~ Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
An upward curve on your face has the power of making the day beautiful. It’s called the halo effect. When you smile at someone, they smile back (trust me, it is hard not to smile back). The smile spreads waves of pleasure that changes the ambience and you feel better; much better.
Of course, I do not ask you fix a smile on your face like a lunatic. Smile at those you make eye contact with. For instance, when you board the bus, smile at the bus driver. When you look for seats, smile at those you see. Smile at the security guard at your office entrance. Smile at your colleagues. It brightens the morning for everyone.
For a start, stop those ‘hssting’ and heavy ‘sighs’, when someone has to squeeze to alight from the MRT or bus. Practical thinking will tell you that the bus is narrow enough and nothing can be done about the squeeze. Quit wishing that the government could do something about the width of the bus. Be smart and smile instead. Say ‘excuse me’ with a smile because the smile has effect on the tone of your voice. And, practice your manners by saying ‘thank you’ when someone excuses you. When you speak politely people respond with politeness.
It really does not take much effort. Give it a try. A piece of advice: Do not smile with the condition that others MUST smile at you. It does not work that way. You have to smile for your sake and not for others. Remember the ‘Invisible Hand’ theory?
I understand. It is frustrating to drag ourselves to work. We leave behind our peaceful mind and rush to spend the rest of the day in front of a laptop screen. We wish we could extend the sleep till the sun sits on its throne. And, it’s even worse for the mothers who have to get the children to school and the fathers who have to get ready in the midst of the chaos at home. I understand. And, it does not end there. The irritation continues when we have to squeeze ourselves in the bus among others who share the same pain.
I cannot spell out a solution to mend the morning mess (if that is how it appears to be). Actually, the solution could be right in front of you, waiting for you to embrace it. But I have a suggestion; a fairly simple one that could help. Try it. It could make the morning a little better.
Smile.
And for those who have forgotten,
Smile is "a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval…” ~ Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
An upward curve on your face has the power of making the day beautiful. It’s called the halo effect. When you smile at someone, they smile back (trust me, it is hard not to smile back). The smile spreads waves of pleasure that changes the ambience and you feel better; much better.
Of course, I do not ask you fix a smile on your face like a lunatic. Smile at those you make eye contact with. For instance, when you board the bus, smile at the bus driver. When you look for seats, smile at those you see. Smile at the security guard at your office entrance. Smile at your colleagues. It brightens the morning for everyone.
For a start, stop those ‘hssting’ and heavy ‘sighs’, when someone has to squeeze to alight from the MRT or bus. Practical thinking will tell you that the bus is narrow enough and nothing can be done about the squeeze. Quit wishing that the government could do something about the width of the bus. Be smart and smile instead. Say ‘excuse me’ with a smile because the smile has effect on the tone of your voice. And, practice your manners by saying ‘thank you’ when someone excuses you. When you speak politely people respond with politeness.
It really does not take much effort. Give it a try. A piece of advice: Do not smile with the condition that others MUST smile at you. It does not work that way. You have to smile for your sake and not for others. Remember the ‘Invisible Hand’ theory?
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