Smile - the shortest bridge between hearts

I slowly walked towards my car in the parking lot, lost in thoughts. Not the best of the days at office. And the prospect of getting stuck in traffic due to the sudden rain made me gloomy.

“Hey there”, a familiar voice called out.

My friend greeted me with a friendly hug and a beaming smile.

And in the next few minutes of our conversation I saw his face light up with joy several times as he cheerfully spoke about the little joys of life.

“Its always such a pleasure to talk to you”, I said.

“Remember always Rajeev, when you laugh, the world laughs with you. And when you cry, you cry alone”

“Then, why not always try to be happy and have a smile on our face”. “You spread joy to others that way”

I pondered over our conversation on my way back.

My thoughts went back to Sister Catherine. An elderly nurse at my mother’s hospital.

She would keep me company as I waited for my mother to finish her OPD rounds.

I would observe Sister Catherine as she would go about with her errands. Greeting patients with a smile (and sometimes a hug), cracking jokes, sharing homemade cookies and paying compliments to unknown strangers.

Spreading joy and positivity, one smile at a time.

Thich Nhat Hanh has said “Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful”

The rain has stopped and a beautiful rainbow smiles through clouds.

Across the road I see kids splashing merrily in the water puddles.

I roll down the car window and wave to them.

And we all smile.