A simple smile can hide a thousand feelings, yet can also brighten up someone else’s day. The power of a simple gesture a lot of us can take for granted, whilst living in such a fast paced and technical world.
I went out for my run/walk this morning I have started the #couchto5k I am telling you this because I am so proud of myself – I sincerely dislike running! Purely because I am not very good at it – but thinking of my own health and how important it actually is to maintain a healthy body as best you can – it is something I felt I needed to do. The amount of people raving about it though, put me off at first. I have never been one to follow the crowd I like to sit back and digest it all first then when the pressures off, I feel I am able to have a go and ta’dah here I am!
I mapped out the 5k route which turned into a 6.4k (I wanted to do a circular route I have a thing about not liking going back on myself) I did my first 5 minute speed walk warm up – my favourate part obviously haha – I felt a little tired but met my first couple of walkers rearing clear of my path as I began to pick up the pace to start my 60 seconds of running. I had my headphones in but paused it as we passed by each other and said “Good Morning” with a half smile, to give them the impression I did this running malarkey all the time, I personally thought it worked. They both smiled back and carried on.
I saw another couple heading my way we did a bit of dancing side to side as we each tried to figure out which way the other would rear off too. I went right. As we passed each other by the lady looked up briefly whilst she was mid stride, a very thoughtful look on her face stared back at me for a split second so I smiled, and her little face lit up with such a lovely smile. Her hair shining in the sunshine and she said “Keep going, your braver than I am!” Bless her, if only she knew, it was only my second round of 60 seconds!
The point I am making though, I still remember that lady’s smile. She didn’t have to speak or acknowledge me, nor did I have to continuously pause my music when passing someone by just incase they spoke (not that I wanted or not wanted them too) but felt rude otherwise. These ever so brief encounters and tiny rays of communication during such an unusual time are a wonderful change to a rather uneasy situation we all find ourselves in at the moment with the current global pandemic.
These are the little things I miss, among other things of course, I don’t know if it is a Yorkshire thing to say hello to anyone and everyone that passes you by when your on a walk? But sometimes, for those that are living alone or have no family/friends close by a simple smile can mean the world to them
