Smile, smile, smile

My family and I have been studying Dale Carnegie’s second rule — smile.

Carnegie quoted Frank Irving Fletcher and said, “It costs nothing but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give…”

Friday night, Nov. 21, while shopping at Ames, I remembered Carnegie’s words regarding a smile. Standing at the jewelry counter were customers and clerks who needed smiles. One lady customer wearing a green coat was trying to fix her watch. After initiating a conversation, I offered to help. She gladly accepted what little I could offer. Then this lady offered to help me with my watch and saved me a very long wait in line. Walking away to find my husband and children, I was glad I smiled.

When I met my husband, he was looking for my 6-year-old son. My son had missed a turn and gotten lost. I joined the search and headed toward the service desk just in time to hear his name announced as a lost boy. I was very glad to find him.

A few minutes later, while talking to my son, I discovered that the customer with whom I had spoken at the jewelry counter helped my child find the service desk and, ultimately, his parents. My son had seen me talking to this lady and after getting lost he spoke to her. She was very kind and helpful and led him to the service desk.

I am very grateful to this customer. I offered one kind word and a smile and she returned two acts of kindness. I could not find her in the store to thank her and I hope she reads this letter.

One smile was a small price to pay for this lady’s wonderful act of kindness. Joanne L. Gray Corinth