Just a little background on myself, I live in Hong Kong, born and raised in Canada, in a lovely family of 5 (the fifth is our adorable pomeranian). I moved to Hong Kong myself, in hopes of expanding my horizons and seeing what's out there.
I spent a good 8 years, going on 9 years, working in this concrete jungle. Though I am not in a financial institution - most HKers are, I feel the burden and pressure of it all. I work in a more friendly environment, working with friends, working for myself, and making friends as a core role in my position.
Over the past 9 years of being in Hong Kong, there's one thing I miss more than anything else, friendliness. I grew up in Western Canada, where people are friendly, down to earth and helpful; and strangers would give you a smile upon eye contact. However, these few years in Hong Kong, I've noticed that the once generous smile of mine, have faded over time, it's become self-conscious and guarded. It's time to get that smile back on my own face, as well as the face of others. The genuine smile that little kids once knew, but as they grew older, started to become more conservative of whom they give their smiles to. I read a quote once and it went something like this,
"Let your smile change the world, but never let the world change your smile" - unknown
I allowed the world to change my smile, and it's time to get that smile back, and on the face of others!
It may be because of the twisted, horrible people of the world, who use our smiles against us and scars us from giving people a genuine smile - perhaps these are the people who are in need of a smile the most.
-- So why? Why do we punish ourselves and the rest of the world because of these people? --
Over the last few weeks, heck months, there has been horrible news from all over the world, it almost seems like everything is coming to an end, wars are constant, people are dying, there are viruses that are yet putting more people into suffering, more and more people in the world are becoming homeless because of the political situation in Eastern Europe, children getting decapitated on the streets by mentally ill individuals, so on and so forth. It's depressing. Where is the humanity that we once knew?
There's not a lot one person can do alone, but I can do my part, and I believe you can do yours too. The power of all of us, even just a mere 10 seconds a day can make a difference in the world. I want to use this opportunity to start a motion, a Smile Project; hopefully influencing people all over the world to smile. It takes 10 seconds a day, as little effort as possible, each smile takes approximately 2 seconds, smile to 5 strangers a day. Who knows, you may change their day - even their lives!
I have no any idea whatsoever on how to move forward, but I do believe that a smile can change a life.
RECRUIT: Here, I sincerely ask your, my readers, to think, to consider, and to put into action, how to use a smile to change the world.
I also would like to ask your opinion on how I can proceed with this Smile Project, especially those who have been involved with the "Free Hugs campaign", designers and think tankers.
#smileproject #smileforabetterplace
