Smile... and not everyone smiles back.

Philippines
August 6, 2016 1:26am CST
While waiting for my transaction at the bank, I sat on one of the chairs provided in the waiting area. A woman came walking towards me. As she was in front of me, she smiled. I smiled back. And she took the seat behind me. Do you smile back as well if a stranger smiled at you? I was taught not to talk to strangers but growing up I realized that not all strangers are psychopath. I was also taught not to accept a candy from a stranger but then, even friends are trying to poison you. But one smile from a stranger is hard to ignore. Maybe it's what the saying goes "Smile and the world will smile back at you." Upon leaving the area, I smiled at a lady standing nearby. She didn't smile back. Ouch. She gave me that confused look instead. Oh well. I'm a stranger to her. So I just smiled at myself. Have you smiled at someone lately?
20 people like this
22 responses
@skysnap (20154)
6 Aug 16
Yes smiled at lot of people and it does work positively some of the times.
3 people like this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Amazing isn't it? A simple smile could brighten up someone's day.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Smiling isn't very taxing. So I give my smile freely.
2 people like this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
And I'm smiling now reading your comment.
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
7 Aug 16
I do always smile at people if I look at them just to be nice.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
7 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses It's how I was raised
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
That's nice.
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
7 Aug 16
Yes I have and most every place I go. Smiling at someone or smiling back at someone that smiles at you doesn't hurt a person at all. Not to mention it helps with the face muscles.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
7 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses People need to smile more than for just the wrinkles. Things would be a lot better if people would smile and not frown.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
@velvet53 I agree. It would be a better world.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Oh my... that is so true. It lessens the wrinkles. It reminds me of a colleague who smiles a lot and she doesn't look her age. She looks younger.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
8 Aug 16
I always smile at people i meet . Sometimes , i don't smile , but they smile , so i smile back . But it got me thinking , that i really have a smiley face because people would always smile at me .
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
8 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses I think so too .
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Aug 16
You have the gift for making people feel comfortable. Probably you have that friendly face.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Aug 16
1 person likes this
• Bahrain
7 Aug 16
Those people or strangers who will smile at you, just smile back at them, nothing will go wrong about that. I always smile to people who smiled at me, smiling is a way of showing kindness and respect as well. Smiling is happiness.
1 person likes this
• Bahrain
7 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses You're welcome.??
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Yes, I do think so. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Aug 16
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
6 Aug 16
There are people I see most days who look the other way and have never smiled at me in their life. I'm a really friendly person and find it hard to understand people like that. I smile at strangers, sometimes they smile back and sometimes not. It takes all sorts I guess.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Yes. Maybe it depends on the mood.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12952)
• Italy
9 Aug 16
When someone smiles at me I try to understand their motives, and then smile back. I smile a lot anyway. Some people make me smile and I'll smile first, but I won't smile because it's kind or polite, I know it can be scary or worrying for some. "What's wrong with me? Why is she smiling?"
1 person likes this
• Philippines
10 Aug 16
It's funny how one simple smile could make someone confused. Or scary if others are getting the wrong message.
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Some people are just not in the mood or having a bad day. But at least you smiled, right?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Yes. That's the bright side of it.
• United States
7 Aug 16
I used to be one that smiled all the time , then it got a little odd for me one day with someone asking why I smile all the time. I went to get a pedicure one day, and there was a young man in front of me getting one too. When I looked up he smiled, i smiled. Well, when it came time to leave he followed me out there saying he can tell I like him and he was following me to my the car, he says because I smiled at him, he could tell I wanted him... hmmmm well, after that you better believe I don't do a lot of smiling and careful of who I smile at. Sometimes it could be seen as you are smiling for some other reason , other than being nice. I was watching a movie once of this girl that was being bothered by a man in the office, and the supervisor asked her do you always smile like that? they put it on the girl for smiling at this man..
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses , I know who knew right that he would think that, so I am just more on guard is all.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Really?? Oh. That's scary. A simple smile would assume him that it means something more. I might think that he has a problem.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
It usually occurs to me that when you see eye to eye with a stranger, a smile almost always follows.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Yes, that's the case most of the time. But sometimes, a person will only stare at you like you're from outer space.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses But in your case, Ms. Rachz, I'm very sure you're not from outer space hehehe!
1 person likes this
• India
7 Aug 16
I pass smile to strangers sometime and usually they smile back. It feels good. But sometimes some people gives susceptible looks which I don't like. Whatever... I like to keep smiling so I do.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Thumbs-up to that. You'll make a lot feeling better.
• India
6 Aug 16
A gentle smile is good. It tells a lot about a person's coardial personality. People feel comfortable interacting with him. However, a person must know when he has to be firm. :)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
That's good. Yes, a smile can open up into something like a friendship because it makes other people feel comfortable. However, we also need to show them if we feel uncomfortable by their approach.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
1 person likes this
• India
6 Aug 16
@rachz_kisses Yes, exactly.. :)
1 person likes this
@AnonLu (4)
• United States
7 Aug 16
Even though I am thoroughly convinced that my smile is somewhat scary, or at least ugly, I smile when others smile back. Smiling isn't a good measurement of happiness though.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Do you know that it is through smiling that people realised how beautiful/handsome you are? Smile. It doesn't mean to say that you're happy. You just smile because you can.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
6 Aug 16
Yes, I always smile at strangers or smile back. I also like to talk to strangers, especially when I am alone. But of course not to everyone, I just trust my own instinct whether that's a good or bad person. Fortunately, I have not met any bad person in my life. I have also met someone that do not smile back to me, I am fine with that as I understand in this society, not everyone trusts others, especially strangers, though a smile will never hurt. I go to the park almost every day, and try to smile at everyone that I meet, though I might not start a conversation with every of them.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
How nice of you. True, a smile won't hurt. My friend had said to me once, "Better be the person who smiled than the one who didn't smile back."
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Depends on who the stranger is. When a man is smiling at me, I don't usually smile back coz I know what his smile means.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Oh. I see....
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
6 Aug 16
I'm not very good in smiling to strangers first... But if they smile at me first, I sure hope I don't have a confused look as I try to manage smiling back at them...
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
Hahaha! I think that's a normal reaction for some. Maybe they don't often get a smile from strangers.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
6 Aug 16
Yes I do that often.Of course there are some who won't smile back But then I am a strnger to her,right?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
hahaha. Yes, just what I had in mind as well.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
6 Aug 16
Aha, so your beauty was turned down hehehe. Actually, I never smile to anyone I do not kmow hehehe.I never look around.Some sometimes misinterpret our smile as something malicious,hehehe.I only smile in church, to my students in the actual semester and at home.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Aug 16
Yes. My beauty was turned down. or maybe she was star struck to see me that she forgot to smile. hahaha!
1 person likes this
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Aug 16
Yes I have, and she was a stranger too. She smiled back. Smiles are the one thing you can give away and still retain.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 16
That's true. It's a nice feeling though to make someone smile...
1 person likes this