Smile

As a kid, I’m sure you’d hear the famous quote, “It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.” I’ve also learned that laughter strengthens your immune system, while anger weakens it. A friend of mine even said, “Smile, cause things really aren’t that bad.”

A few years ago, I got my tooth chipped while playing basketball. Mentally and emotionally, this makes it hard for me to smile. Seeing myself in the mirror is cringeworthy. I can’t stand how it looks.

I saw an old Track & Field teammate at the grocery store the other day. It had been years since we’d seen each other. When I approached him, he recognized me instantly and said “Dixon!” He smiled with a chipped tooth just like mine. He was glowing and bright with energy. I saw myself in him. This brought me back to Earth.

There are many reasons not to smile. But there are many reasons to smile as well. If you’re reading this now, that’s one reason to do so.