giggling

 Our behavior can affect people for good or bad

In my last post I mentioned how people affect each other every day, knowingly or unknowingly. (See People are basically all just people).  Just like the flu or some types of diseases are contagious or infectious, our behavior toward other people is the same, we can infect people with something good or bad.  

I experience this myself just recently. I was going uptown to Manhattan in New York City, and like almost everyone in this Big City we take the subway trains everywhere, even the Mayor does. It is the easiest and least expensive way to get around. You will notice that in a lot of my posts I mentioned experiences or things while riding the trains. Because it is the place you can see the most interesting people in New York from all over the world.  No wonder this city is called the melting pot of nationalities and cultures.  

I am very observant by nature, probably like most creative people I love looking at people, admiring what they wear, their hairstyles, everything from head to toe. It inspires me with new ideas for different creative projects. If you don’t understand people you cannot design or even promote products for them. 

Ebony Legs with Hot Bright Pink Stiletto Shoes

A few seats from where I was sitting on the same side of the train, I saw the long very dark legs of a young woman, african american or maybe just african, with long spiky heels neon bright pink shoes stretching out from under her seat. Now ofcourse I knew I started smiling because she just stood out. She had real dark smooth ebony skin, so these neon very bright pink shoes just stood out in the crowd.  

I was watching her and thinking to myself where in the world is she going with such high heels bright shoes at midday? She couldn’t be going on a business or job interview dressed like that.  She sure would make a nice Shoe Poster, or Billboard Ad. 

Or maybe she is planning on going to a night club after dark and just in case she gets lost or killed her shoes will help the police find her in the dark. Ofcourse my wild creative imagination started designing posters and newspaper scenes in my head about these ebony legs with the bright pink stiletto shoes.  That’s how my mind works when I see something that gets my creative juices flowing.

Again the more people I came across and looked at were smiling. Now I was convinced that I must look funny or something was wrong with me. Did I button my blouse up wrong, maybe missing a spot? Or was my blouse opened in the wrong place? Was there something stuck on my face, or did my upsweep hairdo bun came loosed and looked funny hanging out of place? 

Keep smiling Sweetheart, you have made my day! 

I saw a McDonald Restaurant in the near distance, and just as I was about to rush in so that I could use the restroom and check in the mirror to see if there was something wrong with me, an older businessman with a briefcase walking toward me, looked at me and smilingly said:  “Keep smiling sweetheart, you have made my day.”   “Thank you”, I replied puzzled and surprised. 

Huh? Was that it? Was everybody smiling because I was smiling?  Just to be sure that was the reason for everyone’s smiling back at me, I checked myself in the fast food restroom mirror anyway to make sure nothing was out of place, and I looked fine.  So it was true! People were smiling when I looked at them because I was smiling. I was infecting their spirit, they were catching the smile and responding with same.

A warm smile is contagious, it makes others feel safe

A smile is contagious, if we smile it automatically make others smile back because it sends a friendly message and makes them feel safe. I must have been still musing over that girl I saw with the neon bright pink shoes and smiling. It doesn’t take much for me to giggle or smile anyway, that is just me. People often tell me that I was smiling even when I didn’t know I was. 

But a simple smile affected so many people I came across, and made that businessman day. Who knows he could have been going through some financial, or family problems, or even health problems like most of us, but the simple kind act of smiling helped eased his inner or spiritual need for comfort from a complete stranger.     

What we give out, we get back 

It is true that what we give out we get back because the other person is very much like ourselves, so they can respond to whatever act of kindness we are sending out. And small acts of kindness can do so much good for someone else. 

Unknown to her I was affected by the stranger with the ebony legs and bright hot pink stiletto shoes that started me smiling, and in turn I infected others with my smile. It shows how people or even just one person can affect a whole crowd in even small ways, because we are very much alike, needing the same things. (See “People are basically all just people”). 

 I love the words of the song in this Video, “Smile” sung by Michael Jackson. Turn on the music speakers on your computer and listen carefully to these words. It is also funny and I hope it will bring a smile to your face.  

If it means a simple smile can make another person’s day, then do so, and I hope I have also made your day.  

Written by: (C) Glenda Brill 

Just within the last 3 months we heard about the death of some very well known personalities, some dying within the same week of each other. Among others such names as Ed Mchon, a popular TV Talent and Talk Show Host, Farah Fawcett, well known actress, Ted Kennedy, Us Senator and the last son of a line of one of the most outstanding American political families.

And the last to put to rest just a few days ago was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, a legend in the entertainment world of music, song and dance, whom from the tender age of five, has brought such joy to billions around the world.  Don’t think there will ever be another like him.  All of these unique men and woman deserve a tribute for their hard work and for leaving their history behind for the rest of us.  Our sympathy goes out also to all their families for their losses. 

But even though they were all from different family backgrounds, races, ages, gender, their unique contribution toward humanity made them famous and rich they all had the same in common with the rest of us, or all people around the world. They all suffered basically from the same human frailties, pains, sicknesses, family problems, stresses, disappointments, struggles, sadness, and eventually death.  And had the same needs like all humanity, the need for love, kindness, peace, acceptance, good health, happiness, family, and all the deep spiritual needs that we all long for everyday.

If you read the history of all these famous people, the human conditions and sicknesses are very much like that of anyone anywhere around the world, whether they are famous, Black, White, Asian, or from any other Ethnic group or nationality, rich, poor, living in the jungle, or in a mansion or palace, all humans are suffering in one way or the other, and longing for the same basic things. 

All those Kennedy sons were intelligent fine looking American men, fathers, leaders with so much good intentions. But they had their share of tragedies, multiple illnesses, pains, family problems common to all people.  Ted Kennedy struck at the very core of his intelligence, his brain with cancer. Ed McHon, Farah Fawcett also struggled for years with the same debilitating disease, cancer inspite of their fight to live and find a solution. 

And Michael Jackson multi-talented, a good father and humanitarian, also had his share of problems including the most visible of all, vitiligo a painful terrible skin disease that changed his skin from dark to white. But a simple basic human need, the desperate need for sleep which we all need was what eventually caused his death.

All these fine men and woman had it all, money, fame, great looks, fine  homes, but still could not stop themselves from suffering  and dying. Have you ever asked yourself: Why do we have so much in common with other people no matter who they are, or where they live? Inspite of our differences or stations in life, an entire industry has developed around our curiosity into the lives of other people. Newspapers, Celebrity magazines of every kind sell like crazy. We all want to know who has a new baby, whom is getting married, or divorced. What is happening in their personal lives. We feel their joys and sorrows.

Some celebrity names have become household names in some families. People speak about them like they know them. With the introduction of modern technology, TV, Internet, Cell Phones and other means, the world has become closer than ever. We can sit in front of our TV’s or Computers, and see and hear what is going on with complete strangers anywhere in the world. We applaud them if we need to, cry with those whom we feel a connection to.  We pick and vote for our favorite singers and dancers on Singing and Dancing competitions, and even argue and take sides with what we think the judges should say or not. 

We even become friends or fans with those we like even though we never met them or may never meet them. There seems to be a common thread running through all people, we can understand and sympathize with each others sufferings, stresses, and rejoice with complete strangers. We affect each other knowingly or unknowingly anywhere, everyday. Why? Because people are basically all just people.

Even though some people choose to believe in Evolution, the no God theory, or the Ape connection to humans, the similarities among all people point to the historical account in the Bible book of Genesis that all men (and women) came from one original human pair, Adam and Eve. And because of their disobedience to God introduced by a fallen angel, whom became the Opposer to Life, brought sin, suffering and death into the world which has been passed down to all generations of people. 

How else can we understand the commonness among all of us no matter what we attain in life, and death itself? Death is an injustice, cruel, it is not prejudice, has no mercy,  it doesn’t care whom we are or what we have achieved in life, it will take the greatest man or woman down to the dust inspite of what they do to prevent it.

Why? Scientists cannot explain it, neither does Evolution or Apes. And why are we giving the command to love our neighbor as ourselves, if our neighbor was not like ourselves? And why are we always shock or grieve when someone dies? Death is not natural, if it was natural, then it shouldn’t negatively affect us at all.  The Bible calls death, an Enemy. The enemy of God and Life, brought on by the Evil Angel that instigated rebellion against God by the first humans.

The first man and woman were told that only if they disobey God they would die. God is the Source of Life, staying connected to him would have resulted in everlasting life right here on earth. When they disobeyed they cut themselves off from the very Source that would keep them living, became corrupted and died. But they had children before they died, so that sinful corruption within them like a disease was passed down to their children all the way down to us. So death is the opposite of life, was never meant to be a part of life, neither did sickness or disease.  

You know that Scientists discovered that our cells have the capacity to keep renewing themselves for an eternity, which means that we should never have grown old or die. Also our brain is capable of learning and storing information for generations. By the time we reach 70 or 80 years old we have not even quite used up 10% of our fabulous brains. Still they cannot explain why our cells eventually stop renewing themselves, people get sick, old and die.

Those things came as a result after the rebellion against God, and no matter how hard we struggle to overcome them, they will only be removed by God, through Jesus Christ. That is why he died to remove that sentence of suffering and death brought on by that first human pair and passed down to us.  It takes faith to believe this, and some of you may not believe any of this, and rightfully you have the freedom to choose to believe whatever you want. 

You may still be puzzled over your own sufferings, searching for answers, and going through life with no hope for anything better to come. But no matter how hard we try to ignore our own deep spiritual needs, that yearning for love, kindness, acceptance, peace, good health, and for continued life and happiness is within each of us, all races, whether small or great, poor or rich, known or unknown.

Man created in God’s Image has that deep spiritual need put within us by God, which has been corrupted by our first parents disobedience and passed down to all humans.  Therefore we see the same struggles among all peoples with this imperfect image, the desire and fight to be like the Perfect Image which we were supposed to be like, but the constant interruption by the Opposer to God and Life itself, along with our own imperfections that has resulted from sin.

Unless that complete unity with God is restored, and the Opposer is put out of existence we cannot attain complete peace or freedom from sickness and death.  Fame, Money, Good Looks, nothing can remove these. Jesus Christ death (the ransom) eventually will take care of all this, and complete restoration to that Perfect Image will result. Even those whom are already dead will get a chance to live again. That’s what the Bible says! 

Our connection to all peoples no matter where they live, and our desire to know what is happening to others, our similarities are all evidence that we are all the same. The human race, all neighbors needing each other, and needing a Higher Source to relieve us from our problems and death. It is the Opposer to God, our imperfect image, and some humans that have become evil is what cause hatred and wars among us. So the command now to love our neighbor as ourselves, is the same as loving God, the two go hand in hand. It is the first step toward peace and restoration.  

How we treat other people is the same as treating God, because we were all created in His image.  And we come face to face with the reality each day that we need other people.(so we need God). Therefore there is this constant curiosity into the lives of other humans, even strangers. Whatever we wear, listen to, read, live in, eat etc. were all done by people. We affect each other in even small ways knowingly or unknowingly. Because people are all basically just people. 

In my next post I will write about how a simple experience I had made me see the importance of this.

 Written by: (C) Glenda Brill