Inside Smile

A few years back, during the lockdown era, a friend and I would ride our bikes past people running on the path, smiling as big as we could, to see if we could turn their runners frown upside down.

Our strategy was simple, silly and cute.

Smile as big as you can and see who can get a runner to smile back.

We got a few smiles. I wanna say roughly 5 over a few months, but i think our cheesy grins made up for it.

I used to judge runners for not smiling and think to myself, ‘It just looks so hard! Are they even enjoying any moment of it’?

BUT then, I nearly turned 40 and had an epiphany.

The last few months, I’ve been for a few runs. It’s more a walk /run with the same amount of minutes doing both. It feels a little hard….AND fun, strong, energising, flowing and I am certainly smiling… just on the inside!

My red cheeks may tell a very different story but my inner world is like a surfer in mama ocean, pretty blissed out.

So firstly, I want to apologise to every runner I’ve unintentionally judged from the outside. I see you. I feel you. And I’m sorry.

Secondly, it got be thinking about other times of recent where I’m ‘Inside smiling’?

Sitting on the train in the early morning on my way to work. My ear pods are in, and I’m trying not to watch the young fella next to me, who’s trying his absolute best to impress a girl sitting opposite him. He doesn’t give up, even though his voice shakes a bit. He got her laughing and there was a total sparkle in his eyes and energy. I could feel and see it with my side eye. Inside smiling for sure.

Getting coffee at my fav coffee spot on earth. It’s the bustling Saturday crowd. Waiting in line whilst kids, adults, dogs, prams move around each other basking in the smell of croissants and coffee. No real place to be except here- getting coffee. Inside (and maybe outside) smile.

Doing a performance review with a staff member and talking about the things they struggle with at work, but want to grow through. Inspired. Inside massive smile.

Waiting at the lights in my car and observing a mature age couple lock hands in the Melbourne cold. Not smiling, not frowning, just together. Connected. Inside smile…

You really do find what you look for.

Stay aware folks, these inside smiles creep up on us like Christmas. So, what about if you curiously took note and looked for these inside smiles throughout your day?

This is the stuff that fills our cups up, and then we have more to share with those we love, from the inside out.

Inside outside smiling, right now. What about you?

Much love always 💛