Something about the smile

They say that summer is over. And I guess they’re right since I found few spiders looking for a nice, quiet spot in my flat. These little creatures remind me of the end of summer every year. And I don’t mind really (the end of summer I mean, not the spiders ;). I like autumn with everything changing and maturing, warm colours, plums, walnuts, mushrooms and chestnuts and I’m always looking forward to these nice autumn sunny days in the park or countryside with slightly sharper sunset light and fresher air.

But it’s a pity that people may stop smiling at each other. Yes, I do mean smiling at strangers, here in London, where most don’t even look at each other.

Since I started my fascinating yoga journey I focus more on my emotions, on my mind and its fluctuations, on my body and its aches and pains. And I’m also trying to pay more attention to other people as teaching yoga means serving others and sharing the knowledge of yoga with others. It was a big shift for me from self-centred corporate worker, having a tensed, always ‘ready to fight’ body, including a tension in my face and particularly my jaw to having relaxed, more aware and calm body and mind today. No grinding teeth, no jaw tension any more. When at some point I was able to relax my face and notice other people around me, some of them started smiling at me. First I just thought it was the weather, the Sun making people happy. It is probably true, but only partially. Because what I realised after few weeks (yes, it took me some time to figure it out) is that my face when relaxed and happy in the present moment is simply smiling. So probably some of these strangers were just smiling back at me. But what it also means is that it’s natural to smile when we feel good. It’s natural and we can smile unintentionally. Not when we are watching a comedy, listening to a friend’s joke, reading a funny story or watching something on youtube. Completely natural smile at the Sun, present moment, where we are in our lives, what we have and what we don’t have.

Let’s try appreciating what we have a bit more, catching the last summer sunny moments and let’s try not loosing a smile on your faces when the winter comes ?

Big smile to everyone!!!!

Photo taken by ShamackPhotography.co.uk