The curve that sets everything straight

Humans always acknowledge and interpret movements and stimuli around them, that allow them to react and plan their behaviour accordingly. They hear a lion’s roar and run away, they see their angry boss and hide, they notice their interlocutor smiling and they smile as well.

There are many types of smiles. Picture-perfect smiles, smiles with blindingly white teeth, with lipstick on, with eyes almost shut, with raised cheekbones, smiles with wrinkles, childish smiles, even ironic smiles, honest smiles, heartfelt smiles, smiles full of tears, with glimmering eyes. There’s also your grandma’s smile when she sees you, your mum’s when you fly back to her arms after a long time, your friend’s when you unsuccessfully try to make a joke. There’s the smile of that stranger to whom you gave directions on the street, of that kind elderly man when you gave away your seat on the bus, of your significant other on a tough day.

Have you noticed that a single smile has such a power that makes us reply in seconds, so absently? Surely if you’ve ever been close to a baby on its first stages of developing communication, you know how many emotions one single smile can evoke to everyone around it! You smile, too, with glittering eyes and the baby understands it. Because it’s the gentlest way to communicate candidly. It’s a unique way of communicating, that means the same for everyone. It holds the meaning of a peculiar desire. A desire to express our joy, our hope, our gratitude, to essentially help, and “speak” without saying a word. And the best part is that it’s a universal communication code. You express so much without uttering a single word.

It’s this curve that’s always there, absent, and contagious. We smile since we were babies and that accompanies us ever since on every occasion, wherever we let it peak. Why is a smile so pretty? Because it’s the only thing that crumbles our face so beautifully. Our face should only crinkle in one way, with this unbelievable lip movement that sheds light to everything around it.

You should give smiles voluntarily, not be forced to smile. Someone needs to see it; it will make their day or uplift their mood. It’s contagious and it relieves pain. So, don’t deprive anyone of it. Perhaps you’re not aware of its importance to them. And that’s because deep down, it includes honesty and good intentions. That’s when it holds its real value. Otherwise, don’t waste it. You should learn to spare it lavishly, even if you never retrieve it. Smiling is not about trading, it’s about being honest deep down in your soul. You should use, then, your smile, turn it into your strength, smile passionately, honestly, so much that your cheeks ache. Give to yourself and everyone else the most beautiful curve on you, the one that has the power to set everything straight*!

Quote by Phyllis Diller

Photography by Elpida Stragali

Related Posts

Osmosis - TEDx AUTH
Read More
The Cleaningans - TEDx AUTH
Read More
lets-talk-about-comedy
Read More