May 6, 2022
The Power of Simple Gestures
A simple smile goes a long way…
When I was on my solo trip in Sardegna, I was riding the bus towards Poetto Beach when a garage man looked over at me and threw me a smile. I threw a peace sign back at him and we both laughed. Whatever that simple gesture did absolutely made me shed a tear, or two. It triggered a response within me and made me spy on another simple blessing in this life; the connectivity between us humans.
As stated by Solar Mental Health, “Countless studies have shown that the very act of seeing another person smile triggers an automatic muscular response that produces a smile on our face…When someone else smiles at us, regardless of whether we know them or not, it automatically lifts our mood. We can’t help but smile back, in an act that is almost involuntary”
Not only does a smile or other simple gestures make us more approachable and friendly, but it also boosts our confidence in feeling like we belong here. We have been taught since we were young that holding the door for the elderly is the right thing to do. I would like to declare that holding the door for anybody no matter the age, disability, or ethnicity is the right thing to do. Whether you know the person or not, a smile, fist bump, high five, wave, hug, blowing a kiss, or even a wink ;) goes such a long way.
Florence has taught me the beautiful lesson of looking up while I walk because if I didn’t, I will miss out on half of the beauty that’s right in front of my movie. The simple details on the roofs, the change of texture from brick hewn stone, the colossal historic buildings, and the mini lion sculptures that are on the edges of the walls would all be missed if I didn’t train my eyes to look up.
Instead of having your head down or eyes glued to your phone, lookup for a change. Look up at the world in front of you because I bet you don’t even realize half the time your head is down. Your posture, and the way you walk, say a lot more about you than you think.
Nothing on our phones is more important than what’s happening in front of our reality.
Assembling a significance to make others feel extra special and salient will, in turn, make you feel more special and salient. The more authentic love you can give out, the more authentic love you will be able to generate within. This is called the equilibrium of life.
Say thank you more often, look people in the eyes more, hold the door for the person behind you, and always say hello to whoever greets you when you walk into a building.
It’s so imperative to admire the simple gestures of other humans because those simple little gestures can take us a long way. When I was younger, my mother always taught me to be friendly to strangers and say hi because we never know who needs that small encounter. Charlie was also an incredible example of being extra vibrant to strangers. He always said it didn’t matter if you know them or not, just be nice to everyone. That kid knew how to make anybody smile in a matter of five seconds. His fist bumps, high fives, and hugs were his love language. I feel like if Charlie were here today, he wouldn't just say “Check on your friends.” He would say “Check on our tribe.”
All of us, no matter what we look like on the outside, is one beautiful and loving tribe; we are the tribe of humanity.
Live for yourself but along the way, empower others to believe in the connectivity between us humans. Watch someone’s world light up because of your smile. :)
I am you and you are me. Together, we are we.
I love you as I love myself,
Chelsey Grace Jacobs #W2W
#CGJDictionary
