All I Did Was Smile

--by dewolfe, posted Oct 3, 2008

One day I was going home and jumped on the LRT (train). There was one seat compartment that was empty except for a 'dirty' run down looking man obviously coming down off of something. Although there were two empty seats across from him, and one beside him, and the train was jam packed, no one would sit there. Me, being me, waltzed into the train car, sat directly across from him, looked him in the eye and smiled. The look of shock, shame and amazment on his face is a look I will never forget.

He was obviously shocked that someone would sit across from him when a train full of people had done their best to avoid him so far. After he got over the shock, you could see the shame on his face, and you knew it was because of his appearance and how his problems, addictions, whatever they were, were so obvious. I figured this because immediately after the shock he kinda straightened his posture and slicked his hair down and made an attempt at a subtle 'clean-up' of his appearance. He never said anything, he never tried to get closer. All he did after trying to clean himself up was stare out the window and occasionally look at me with a baffled smile.

When we arrived at his stop (I had one more to go) he stood while averting his eyes, then, right before going out the door, he put on this great big sincere smile and said 'have a good day!' as well as he could through his hazed slurring. Just the look on his face and that smile are things I will never ever forget. All I did was smile and that was the reaction got, it was amazing.

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Posted by dewolfe
Oct 3, 2008
Comments (29)

Readers Comments

wayfarer wrote: You did way more than smile, deWolfe, you recognised him as a human being, something that people in his position don't get too often I guess. You did kind thing and that smile was your reward. Treasure it.

JuneBug wrote: Wow1 What an amazing story! Maybe for a short while this person felt like a person because of you! :}

mitu915 wrote: i can now see living examples of how just a smile can make a world of difference! we can smile more in the world and not even realize that we could be positively improving lives in the process!!!!

makesomeonesmile wrote: That was very nice of you. Everyone likes to feel like they matter. Thanks for doing that for him!

lmil1954 wrote: Lots of smiles from me to you:):):):):):):):):):):):)
Yours meant the world to that man that day!!
LindaM:)

theresa wrote: that was the most kind thing you did. it was possible that was the only connect he had for the day. that was so nice and kind of you to do that. you made him feel like a person for a while.

FalseMonkeyPuzzl wrote: You brought tears to my eyes with your story. Would I have done what you did? Not before I read your words. You did a wonderful thing - you touched a heart.

hello wrote: You are kind!

gianjot wrote: Wow, that was a lovely thing to do and you made this man feel accepted - he will always remember.

Big hug.

anonimus wrote: I couldn't put it better than wayfarer,you reminded that man that he was a human being and that you were both equal. You have a rear quality that most of us don't have. Humility. Thanks for the wonderful post. :-}:-}:-}

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