Have you ever noticed how a simple smile can shift the energy in a room? How a warm grin from a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger can soften the hardest of days? There is something almost magical about the way a smile carries light, like a ripple in a pond, reaching far beyond what we can see or measure.
Years ago I used to run on a trail that encircled Austin’s downtown lake. One day a man caught up with me on my morning run. He said, “I’ve been running behind you for the last mile and every single person you’ve passed has smiled at you. You must be very special.” To which I replied, “The reason why they are smiling at me is because I’m smiling at them.” He paused for a second and vowed that he was going to smile at everyone on his runs from then on.
Science tells us that when we smile, our brains release feel-good chemicals—serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. These little messengers of happiness lift our spirits, reduce stress, and even strengthen our immune systems. But what’s even more incredible is that smiles are contagious. When you share a smile with someone—your best friend, your neighbor, the barista at your favorite café, or the person passing you on the street—you give them a gift. Their brain picks up on that same wave of joy, and before they even realize it, they are smiling back.
And here’s the beautiful part: that smile doesn’t stop with them. They, in turn, are more likely to pass it on to someone else. One simple, effortless act can create an entire chain of kindness, touching lives you’ll never even know about.
Think about it—what if your smile today reaches someone in a moment of deep struggle? What if the stranger at the bus stop, the coworker sitting quietly at their desk, or the exhausted parent at the grocery store needed that tiny spark of warmth to remind them they are not alone? You may never know the impact you’ve made, but the ripple is real.
In a world where we witness hardship, injustice, and unkindness, choosing to smile is a radical act of love. It is a quiet rebellion against the darkness, a statement that kindness still exists, that connection still matters. And the best part? It costs you nothing.
So today, I invite you to share your smile freely. Let it shine without hesitation. Smile at your friends and family, at strangers on the street, at yourself in the mirror. Give the world the gift of your light and watch how it reflects back to you.
You have no idea how much beauty you create just by being you!
by Kim Goyette
This week’s 18 minute Kundalini Yoga class, Yoga to Experience the Energetic Body, is all about feeling into your energetic body. We are familiar with the physical body, but often are not in tune with the energy that runs through us and is us. Through Kundalini breath work and postures that stimulate energy movement, we will elevate our vibration from the inside out. Yoga with Meditation Mutha is for everyBODY. Please join me in this opportunity to honor and develop our energetic system. Enjoy!
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