THE MAGIC OF A SMILE

Every time you smile at someone,

it is an action of love,

 a gift to that person,

a beautiful thing – Mother Teresa.

During my first year at the university, life was interesting. It still is but then, the anxiety of trying to figure out how things work gave me a thrill mixed with confusion. In the course of the second semester, there was this beauty contest. I felt a kind of urge to participate but, I dismissed the thought. However, my stubborn pack of friends did not seem to stop pestering me to go sign in. So, in the end, I gave in. It was a great experience I must say. I did the cat walk, plenty of photos, lots of fans….didn't win. Nevertheless, I learnt an important value from the whole experience. SMILING.

The oxford dictionary defines a smile as a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. Some smiles may also include contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes. There has been, so far, no dispute to the fact that a smile has the power to brighten up anyone's visage. We shall also see other benefits that come with it. A smile can as well be classified as a nonverbal cue. It is an expression of happiness, sociability, pleasure or amusement. We also have counterfeit smiles which are pretentious and maybe used to hide real emotions. 

Smiles are also confirmed to have health and social benefits. The following are a few of the benefits a smile can bring you.

A smile will definitely makes you more attractive.  People tend to be drawn to those who smile. They seem friendly and approachable. They create a jovial atmosphere which many people prefer.

A smile is also contagious. When someone smiles in a room, they tend to brighten it up and everyone present may tend to feel the effect. A smiling person brings happiness with them.

Smiling also boosts your immune system. The immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling more.

It is also said to reduce blood pressure. Those with blood pressure monitors at their disposal can try out this experiment. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take a reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

A smile lifts the face and makes you look younger. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making someone appear younger. Don't go for a face lift. Just try smiling your way through the day. You will surely look younger and feel better. 

Smiling makes you seem successful. People with smiling tendencies always seem more confident and in control of themselves. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

Smiling helps you stay positive. It is almost impossible to engage in any negative thoughts when smiling. (Try it) When we smile, our brain sends a message to the rest of us that “Life is good”. We may have many problems in life but we wouldn't solve them by frowning or worrying either. The Bible, in Matthew 6:27 asks, ‘Who of you by worrying adds a single hour to his life?’. Think about that simple question critically and if you can come up with a ‘yes’, please come out and tell us how. 

I was once in a public transport vehicle at one time and this cute baby looks at me interestingly and smiles. I automatically smiled back. All of a sudden, all the nagging thoughts meddling in my head disappeared and were replaced by a happy mood. It worked like magic. So how about we start smiling more often. It gives you a better face anyway. 

BRINGING HER UP TO BE THE BEST

Many times, we ladies claim that there are no good men out there. We assert that all men are dogs, they have neglected their responsibilities, they have too much ego and all other bad phrases referring to the male species. We never stop to think that there maybe logs in our own eyes as we keep criticizing the specks on our brothers’. The kind of perspective we view life with, our mode of handling issues and the decisions we make are all influenced by what mom, aunty or grandma (but mostly mom) taught us as we grew. So, what is it that these crucial mentors for the girl-child are doing wrong?

As a mother, your daughter will mostly look up to you. In most circumstances, a girl will refer back to her mother before making any crucial choice in her life. I am personally most grateful to my mom for bringing out the best in me. Her prayers and frequent scolding have made me who I am today. A mother should ensure that she sets out the right pace for her daughter as she prepares for her own future as a mother and a wife as well. In order for a mother to lay down the right foundation for her daughter, she has to place priority on a few basic issues. These include primary aspects such as cuisine, hygiene, discipline and respect.

A woman has a major role to play in the society. She is the potter of generations and it is hence up to her to ensure that she does things right. She has to shape up and lay the right foundation for the coming generations. The father also has a role to play in this regard but the mother is the steering wheel of it all. The girl should therefore be armoured with the right skills as she grows.

With respect to the mentioned primary aspects of a girl’s upbringing, a mother has to teach her daughter personal hygiene at her earliest stages. A girl has to view showering as a pleasure and not some form of punishment. She should not only be outwardly clean, but also inwardly as well. Cleanliness, of all kinds, is said to be nearness to Godliness. Which brings us to the question: what does God expect of us as mothers? Proverbs 31, a common chapter from the Bible, vividly describes how a good wife should act. Quite an adorable lady drawn there and the good news is…yes, we can be her ladies. Lets us work towards equipping ourselves with the right knowledge so as to rise up a new generation of responsible girls through our daughters. Cuisine has to be compulsory for girls in every home. They have to posses a natural passion for cooking so that they have their way to a man’s heart when the time is right. On discipline, a girl has to be courteous and common sense has to be her middle name. Above all, a girl has to be respectful. This will in turn earn her a lot of respect for herself and even from her surrounding. Proverbs 31: 25 says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come”. Lets us be responsible so as to bring up a responsible girl-child who will earn her strength and dignity through her well shaped character.