Sharing a Smile

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Sue Vincent

“I love you.”

Strong arms hold me in a fierce and joyful embrace. Eyes shine down, brimming with laughter. The handsome, bearded face smiles into mine.

“Will you marry me?”

No, I’m not dreaming.  Though it may count as the quickest proposal in history. I tend to like to know someone for more than 30 seconds…

I had been minding my own business, trying to get in and out of the supermarket in record time when I was stopped by two young men, possibly in their mid thirties. The smaller one touched my arm and spoke, in desperate tones.

“You are a woman.”

This, I thought, was fairly self-evident and required no answer.

“A pretty one too,” said the giant Adonis, eyes twinkling with mischief. Ooh, how nice.

“We need to you settle a debate…” Advice on the tastes of womankind in general was asked and given… a sort of either/or situation. Apparently I sided with Adonis, and was rewarded with both hug and proposal.

A brief encounter, of no consequence, noteworthy simply because it made me smile.

It doesn’t take a lot, of course. I would far rather smile than frown and will generally do so just for the sheer joy of living. But you can’t beat the spontaneous smiles that arise from sharing a moment with another human being.

What made the moment stand out was not the laughing exchange of words, not even the compliment, but the momentary lack of any masks or barriers between three strangers. It is unusual, sadly, for strangers to approach each other, much less to talk, smile and laugh with each other for no real reason.

It struck me what a shame that is, and how many barriers to potential joy we put in our own way. We are so hemmed in by the way we are raised, our national character, perhaps, particularly in England with its traditional stiff upper lip and polite but distant smile.

I remember smiles…the ones that come from within and light up the eyes, illuminating the face that wears it and that of the one to whom it is directed. The eyes may be alight with mischief and laughter, or with gentleness and kindness, but the genuine smiles that come from the depths of being do not fade. They are healing, infectious and their beauty remains, from the first smile of an infant to the time when age has overlaid them with a tracery of lines.

Rollright stone circle

June 2013

Reposted for the launch on Ronovan’s BeWoW venture.

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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34 Responses to Sharing a Smile

  2. barbtaub says:
    February 25, 2015 at 07:09

    What a lovely moment. Thanks for sharing it!

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  3. Ronovan says:
    February 25, 2015 at 09:07

    I can’t believe you told our story. sigh And now everyone knows how I stalked you around the supermarket and my Adonis friend got the better of the deal. 🙂 Loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Chatter Master says:
    February 25, 2015 at 10:34

    Moments of interaction, smiles and humaneness. Lovely! 🙂

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  5. TanGental says:
    February 25, 2015 at 11:10

    Brought this back. http://www.freehugscampaign.org I remember being in Carnaby Sreet three of four years ago and a woman had a Free Hugs sign. I had to smile. I made a cheesy joke about how awful the illegal imprisonment of Hugs was which went right over her head. Still, you’re right. It makes you smile..

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  6. noelleg44 says:
    February 25, 2015 at 13:01

    One of those rare encounters that light up your day, or week, or month… My mother was someone who could talk to anyone, and usually did. I’m like that, as is my husband. We’ve met some incredible people, just striking up a conversation. Loved this story, Sue.

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  7. caoimhelionheart says:
    February 25, 2015 at 13:49

    Perfect topic for today! Thanks Sue! ♡♡

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  9. olganm says:
    February 25, 2015 at 22:10

    Thanks for sharing that lovely moment and your beautiful reflections on smiles…:)

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  10. Carol Balawyder says:
    February 25, 2015 at 22:47

    Thanks for the smile! 🙂

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  11. kanzensakura says:
    February 25, 2015 at 23:00

    Oh! I am just so smiling over this!

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  12. Eliza Waters says:
    February 26, 2015 at 02:08

    ‘It struck me what a shame that is, and how many barriers to potential joy we put in our own way.’ So true, Sue. It is insane what we put on ourselves and what we miss when we are stuck in our own little world. Thanks for the reminder to smile more. Our faces always look better when we do! Yours is lovely!

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  14. Suzanne Joshi says:
    February 28, 2015 at 14:22

    Well, Sue, that doesn’t happen every day. It seems I’ve always gone to the wrong supermarkets. 😀

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