So you’ve got a smiley face…now what?
The smiley face you have before you was the beginning of The Smile Project. Years ago, I crafted a small circle out of left over Play-Doh I found on my bookshelf. After the clay had hardened, I grabbed a sharpie and drew a smiley face on it before placing it on my nightstand. Every night, before I turned off my lamp, the last thing I saw was a purple faced grin smiling back at me.
Eventually, that face was what inspired me to start The Smile Project. I bought tons of clay and crafted smiley faces in five different colors: green, blue, red, yellow, and purple—each representing a different charity. [Click here for more information on the charities]
What you see is a smiley face. If you flip it over, there is a number and The Smile Project logo. The number is representative of a “Happiness Is..” statement. These can all be accessed from the Happiness is page or the Facebook page. Your smile represents a certain happy idea.
But your smile represents more than that. As you sit with the smile in your hand, there is extra meaning. Think of who gave it to you. They passed along this piece of joy because they believe you are worthy of a smile. They know your value. Thank them.
Now look at the smile for what it is—a cracked and flawed mound of hardened clay. It’s not perfect… neither are you. It may have cracks. It may be smudged. It might be littered in polka dots and have one droopy eye.
But it still smiles.
You can still smile. Despite your cracks and despite your flaws, if you can find it within yourself, the ability to smile and to pass it on, then you have succeeded.
Thank you for taking the time to read the story of your smile. Now go write your own…and pass it on.