It's Written all over your face!
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It happens when I'mbrdriving. Never fails. So when it does, I just let out a littlebrchuckle as I'm reminded of how I came by the simplest yet most valuablebrparenting advice ever. I know you'llbragree it's the easiest thing ever to put in motion. Heck, you might even be doing it now.
It's the lovely little commandbrthat precedes the famous phrase, “…You're on candid camera!” Or how about this for a clue? If you “crack” one of these it'll certainlybrbrighten yours or someone's day.
Yep. It's something so verybrsimple. A smile.
You know. The blissful little break you give yourbrfacial muscles that's painless and infectious.
Now… the back-story. My late father used very few words when he taughtbrme this gargantuan lesson in a miniscule moment. I was a teenager, growing up in Fort Worth. It sounded silly to me at the time. I don'tbreven think Dad himself felt it was a major thing. It was though.
This man knew everythingbrabout mostly everything-- or so I believed. brI looked up to him. Presently, asbra news reporter, I realize I probably inherited his gift of gab.
That particular day hebrstarted as if he were teaching me some unspoken rules of the road. It was just the two of us in the car. I remember him making his point whilebrdemonstrating it at the same time.
We stopped at a traffic lightbrand pulled up beside another car. That'sbrwhen he began to explain, “Every time you pull up next someone in another vehiclebror they pull up next to you… if you glance over and the person happens to lookbrat you-- just always give a smile.
Then he repeats it all justbras the woman next to us shifts her face toward our car. He tells me, “When your eyes meet, just offerbra friendly little smile as if to say, ‘Hello there. I'm a nice person.”
Bingo! There it is! My dad, who didn't have great riches or powerbror fame…just wanted me to be a nice person.
It's priceless advice! But get this. brI'm kicking myself because from that moment until drafting this post, Ibrhave never shared it with my daughter who is now 13 years old.
I wonder why. I think to myself - ‘is it because something as simple as a smilebris so engrained in my psyche that I don't consider it needs to be taught?' Or maybe I believe everybody… even my own kid…brshould know this is simply how to be polite.
As a reporter I meet tons ofbrpeople. I smile on the regular. I don't give it a second thought.
You might say, I honor thebrlesson my dad taught me in the car that day even when I'm not behind the wheel.
Whether I'm in Old Kellerbrlooking at antiques or browsing clothing boutiques in Southlake, if my eyesbrmeet someone else's… I smile.
It releases a small tidalbrwave of positive, relaxing energy and I DEFINITELY need that as the mom of abrteen girl!
A smile feels really good. And when you wear it well, it gives you thisbraura of confidence like you're wearing a brand new, beautiful outfit that fitsbryour body like a glove.
My daughter, Madison, neverbrgot to meet her grandfather. He passedbraway before she was born.
Ibrthink I'll finally (verbally) teach her that “passenger seat” lesson I was sobrfortunate to receive all those years ago.
Now. How's that for a smile?
Dionne Anglin is a TV news reporter withbrFOX 4 News. She, her husband, daughterbrand their rambunctious dog, a one-year old Vizsla, live in North Keller. Dionne is always looking for new ways tobrexplore her North Tarrant County community… and that often includes the lure ofbrnew restaurants, shops and jogging at different parks—but also the quest forbrlocating cozy spots to enjoy coffee and plain old people watching. Check out her blog to keep up with herbradventures in maintaining a career and “mom-dom” with a unique sense of stylebrat reportermom.com