Being "Present" and Spreading Smiles on the Train

--by NEWJA, posted Jan 3, 2010

I'm smiling happily and brightly, feeling grateful, standing in a packed local transit train during the afternoon rush hour in San Francisco. Looking around, I notice that everyone looks so heavy and somber. Then I say lightly and with a smile, "Everyone looks so serious."

Several people nearby look at me blankly, and one person smiles. Then I say "Come on guys, this is San Francisco!"

Suddenly a few more smiles. Someone who looked very somber moments before smiles and says, "It's worse in New York." Another person smiles and says, "It's worse on the BART train (another transit service in San Francisco) too."

Then I smile even bigger and say in a light tone, talking excitedly, "Well, I don't know much about that, but we gotta redouble our happiness." Suddenly everyone smiles as we approach the next stop. A few moments later, someone says, "Well, let's go out and spread it." Looking over my shoulder, I see that everyone is smiling and I step off the train, filled with that familiar feeling of joy and gratitiude at the same time. I'm a junkie for it.

A good friend of mine once said "The best gift we can give is the gift of our presence," and I took that to heart.

I find that with that kind of practice, the minor incoveniences of life become like nothing. I don't even notice them. In fact, I have gained 1,000 times more than I could ever lose, and I did it all just by giving the gift of my presence. To the wonderful people who have taught me that, thank you so much.

The gift of our presence is the greatest gift a person can give, and it doesn't cost a cent.

3841 Reads

Posted by NEWJA
Jan 3, 2010
Comments (21)

Readers Comments

bluebyrd47 wrote: Your presence here has made an impression with me! Wish I were on that train to smile at you!...Thanks for spreading joy and smiles.

JuneBug wrote: I wish I were on that train too !!! I'm glad your hearing came back, but you have to admit, IT WS WORTH IT !!! :)

AURELIA wrote: Smiles are Contagious :) and your presence got it all started. Think of the impact you made in SanFrancisco that day and more to come.
I am so happy the ringing went away and your hearing is returned :)
This is a FEEL GOOD story! Thanks for posting it. ~Aurelia

grammagussie wrote: Dear inspiration junkie, Loved you story and I too wish I had been on that train. All that was missing was a shirt with FREE HUGS written on the front. lol Smiles...~grammagussie~

Tigerlily wrote: How completely marvelous. Good for you! And how lovely for those people with whom you shared the ride.. oh, and for the record, the BART is worse :) Many blessings to you.

cabbage wrote: WOW...what an inspiration!!!! Thank you!

makesomeonesmile wrote: Good for you! What a wonderful thing to do. Smiles are most definitely contagious!

geet wrote: That's simply great!! It is amazing how much difference one person can make. I'm sure that those 10 min. will stay with all those people for a lifetime.

OperationSmileyF wrote: Talk about seizing the moment! Wow, that was really great thing in figuring out how to turn those frowns upside down. Nice job! Keep up the good work. :)
LOAS

sethi wrote: Thanks for spreading joy and happiness on that train. Great Post .

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