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When you smile
Posted By Sam
During a recent conversation with an elderly woman I was told something that left me heart broken. She said the saddest thing that happened to her now she is older is people stop have stopped recognising her. She was not referring to people she knows, but how in her sixties, people on the street no longer look her in the eye, or recognise her as a human being; they look right through her, and it makes her feel like she has no value in society any more.
This hurt me because I realised I maybe guilty of this and so I vowed to make sure I engage everyone I look at or walk past.
My new plan has met with mixed success, about a quarter of people I now smile at return my smile and I feel good about myself. Another quarter just ignores me and looks right past me. Unfortunately the remaining half gives me a really funny look, like I am some kind of smiling simpleton weirdo.
I remain undeterred.
Feb 21st, 2008
I sat next to a woman on the bus on Valentines day. I had a rose that was given to me by someone on the street (I think they were trying to sell me something). She commented on how nice it was then we got to talking about her husband who passed away several years ago. She was such a nice woman and seemed so lonely and I was embarrassed that our generation doesn’t generally offer the simple courtesy of having a conversation with the person next to you, because you’re right, such small things can make your day and I bet days like Valentines day must be just awful when all you have left are the memories.
Keep smiling, it’s the quarter who notice that matter.
My plan isn’t even selfless as we all end up old eventually.
Thanks for the story Nat - and good work on the rose for valentines (I was given beautiful cufflinks and a Commando Comic Almanac - someone knows me and loves me very much!).