In Return of the King, Faromir mentions bringing a "mighty gift" to his father, Denethor. Of course he is referring to the One Ring. One ring to rule them all.
One ring that rules the others forged and therefore ruling all the inhabitants of Middle Earth.
So much power but for what good? None.

There is a "mighty gift" that each of us own. One that is powerful enough to influence another life, even if for a moment.

What? Oh Nikola, please tell us what this gift is?

It is a simple smile.

When you are the first person someone sees in the morning, a smile can set the tone for their day. When someone is having a terrible day, a smile can ease their troubles if only for a moment. When someone is in a job that deals with people on a constant basis, a smile can sometimes be a rarity and very much appreciated.

I had a conversation about friendliness and smiling with a couple who were waiting on their order the other day. I'm still learning the ropes and am running slow and their order was taking a long time. I apologized to this wonderful couple. They told me that at least I was friendly. I told them that is always better for everyone involved. The woman mentioned that it is so rare to see someone in a customer-based job smile when dealing with customers. I agreed. The conversation went on until their order was ready. They thanked me for my friendliness, I thanked them and we were all left with smiles on our faces. Comments such as these are what make me see that I'm making a difference.

I know that when I am overwhelmed, a simple smile can brighten my day. It is an act of courtesy, of kindness. And it is so appreciated.

My customer is right. Smiles have become a rarity. Are people too busy? Are they too caught up in their own daily worries? Perhaps. I have noticed that even more recently, perhaps the last several months, that smiles are becoming rarer. Even smiling at someone and being courteous can be met with a scowl. What happened here? In my experience a majority of people will smile back if offered a smile.

My theory is this: with the downturn of the economy, less people have something to smile about. They are stressed to the max, wondering how on earth they are going to pay for the basics of life. They are so lost in this stress and worry that a smile can't reach them.

But I try. I will continue to smile hoping that it will shine through the worry and give someone a feeling that we are all in this together, that not all of us are beyond a simple gesture of kindness. Smiling is truly contagious but these days there seems to be an immunity building. I refuse to let that immunity win.

I will continue to smile. Will you join me? Together we will brighten the world for our fellow inhabitants. We can use our "mighty gift" for good.


 

We have no 8th Street in my little town and no Home Depot.

However, there is an 8th Street and a Lowes in Ardmore! Ardmore's streets are all screwed up. For instance, 8th may be over here and another part over there and yet another yonder. I think whoever planned the street system in town was smoking some of that wacky tobaccy! Crazy, especially for someone like me who is much better at landmarks than street names and numbers.

On to Lowes, which is on 12th Street. I'm in the planning stages of completely redoing the inside and some of the outside of my house. Lowes is the best game in town. I've been there only a few times and am impressed at the array of home improvement items. This is coming from a small town girl who was accustomed to only the local, family owned hardware store for any home improvement needs. Lowes is like Paradise for me.
 

Sure I have. Who hasn't?

Storytelling is part and parcel of our society. Have you read a good novel? Giving your friend a general outline of the storyline without giving the plot twists away is storytelling.

So is explaining the main plot of a movie, making up an excuse, spreading gossip, making up a story for a child's entertainment. We've all done one or more of these. We know the bigger picture but tell the flash fiction version.

I think the need to tell a story is part of our genetic makeup. We need to explain things. Granted some are better at this than others. My cousin is an excellant storyteller. Her delivery and comic timing draw me in and leave me wanting more. I've tried to get her to write to no avail. It's truly the world's loss. On the other hand, I often stumble through my spoken words out of nervousness. I'm much better on paper and even then it needs tweaking.

Relating stories in all its varied forms is a wonderful, oftentimes colorful part of life. I'd be lost without it.

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Inspired by Stik says Gobble Up 's own Stik Shops at Cafe Press, I annouce the grand opening of Laughing Chihuahua Designs.

I've had a blast creating these and have many more ideas. Check them out!

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