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Didn't smile?
Off the Wall
March 27, 2008
Approximately a month ago, I received an insert
in The Latrobe Bulletin titled "American Profile."
Underneath the title in front of the White House building stood
23 presidents. At their knees, it was written, "Presidential
Trivia."
Now, to look at our country's leaders, most people
may not have thought there was anything out of the ordinary concerning
this picture. What I noticed was that not one of those men had
a smile on his face.
But that's really not that unusual. I happened to
view a group photo of a number of people who all got awards for
one reason or another, and they, too, lacked cheerful expressions.
I asked a friend recently if his employer
had a book featuring pictures of all the employees. He told me
a good many years ago, he remembers one made, but none has been
made since. I posed the question to him, "Among all those
pictured, was anyone smiling?" I don't think I have to tell
you the answer. By now, you know it already. "No".
It didn't take me long to think back when I used
to do portraits as part of my photography services I offered
here in Latrobe. Men would come in from what used to be Latrobe
Steel, Latrobe Area Hospital and some of the other industries
in the area. All the gentlemen insisted that smiling was out
and that they preferred to look serious. At that time, I found
that odd, for I thought that if one was to be well received by
another client, he should look friendly, and that smiling was
a positive attribute.
Then one day, as I was meditating in church, I looked
around and began starring at the stained glass windows. Not one
of the saints had smiles on their faces. At first, I wondered
why. Then all of a sudden, I received a "word of knowledge."
A smile is the expression of an inward feeling
of the self. It is an attention-drawing mechanism. Those who
reach out use the facial muscles to communicate some degree of
joy, in many cases, to seek something in return.
A person walking up Main St. happens upon another
coming the opposite direction smiles and states, "Good Morning."
Feeling that the passer-by has to reciprocate, he, too grins,
and gives a similar greeting. A beauty pageant contestant gleams
as she looks into the television camera. She is said to have
a "Colgate smile," so-named after the toothpaste. A
little baby will beam with joy as he reacts to a parent's playfulness.
But would all three of these people be considered
friendly, attractive or cute if they weren't smiling? In my opinion,
maybe so, to some degree, but not entirely.
What I learned through my meditation was this. People
who don't want others to see them as a key figure of interest
may not smile, for what or whom they stand for is more important.
A leader of our country, an industrial salesman or a saint all,
in a sense, work for or promote products or leaders. When it
comes right down to it, they are not the important ones, their
cause is. What each is doing is serious business and should be
con-sidered as such.
But for many of us who don't hold down those positions,
let it happen. Greet others with a grin. Add a little sunshine
to people's lives. Be complimentary to all, adding a spark of
cheer to their day. Let parents of young children know their
offspring are little darlin's. It will make others feel good,
and warm your heart as well!
Paul J. Volkmann
2/18/08
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