I was feeling a bit down today, feeling like life has been frustrating, overwhelming, and tiring, and that I wish things went more the way I want them to. Obviously, life doesn't work that way, and I'm not sure it would be all that great if it did. I'm generally a very upbeat, energetic, and overall happy person. But I do, on occassion, get down, and that always throws me off.

But what really helped get me through the day was a simple smile. I always smile at people I see, whether or not I know them. It's just something I do. I never gave much thought to it, and never thought much about how it impacted the people who received my smile. I was walking outside today, and a person passing by smiled at me, and I suddenly felt my spirits soar. All at once, the only thing that mattered was that someone out there thought to smile at me. There was no ulterior motive behind the smile, it was just a smile. And the effect it had on me was profound. The rest of the day was great!

I realize now that everyone experiences these feelings from time to time. But when those feelings hit, getting that smile certainly makes things seem more manageable. So I will keep smiling, and know that this simple gesture can brighten someone's day. It feels good to know that I can make a difference in the world.