A Smile

Today, I walked fast. I did not walk fast for my usualy reasons: being extremely late or trying to seem busy and therefore important. Actually I was late, but that aside, I was walking fast to get out of the icy cold rain and wind and away from the sky that was so gray it caused campus to be nearly nighttime dark at 11:30 a.m.  I hate days like this because I have to try extra hard to stay in a good mood.
Of course, living in Washington causes about 70% or more of our days to be this way; gloomy, wet and gray. Even the beautiful greens and blues of Washington landscape turn into gray and black on days like that. It is as if somebody opens Washington up in photoshop and turns the colorful landscape into a black and white picture.
I could go on and on about how dreary these gray Washington days are, but that's not my point.
As I was speed-walking to class, I glanced around me at all the dreary details. (good college reporters always look around at details)  I looked around me at all the other students sitting or walking with glazed eyes and frowned faces, knowing that they felt as down as I did on this gloomy morning. They probably also wished they were at home with hot cocoa, watching reruns of "King of the Hill." (or some similar notion)
I noticed a guy about my age hurrying towards me, going the opposite direction. He was probably late too. As I glanced at his face, he glanced at mine and to my surprise, met my gaze with a grin. It shocked me so much that I nearly didn't smile back. But in the nick of time, I returned a small smile and hurried on, flustered. But that boy's friendly grin was enough to raise my hunched shoulders and my dragging spirits. Even on sunny days, students don't look at each other, let alone smile at each other! They just walk with eyes glued to the ground, drowning the world out with their ipods, too busy with their insignificant lives to notice the people around them. And if we students do notice someone looking at us, we avoid their gaze, walking faster to avoid human contact. That is the purpose of college isn't it? To be anti-social and avoid those outgoing people who actually like to get to know people? (The nerve!)
Yet, on probably the grossest, grayest day of the year, this boy had the heart to reach out and touch my spirit with his. As I thought about it, I just wanted to run back and hug him. I wanted to tell him how bad I had been feeling and that his smile lifted me higher. But I had to hurry to class before I was late enough for the teacher to glare at me. I even said a small prayer thanking the Lord for the boy I knew He had sent to cheer me up. I even decided to start my "Thankful Journal" again, where I write five things that happened that day I am grateful for.So, see how much just one smile can do for someone? Never underestimate the power of a smile.  I am now resolved to sometimes break past the solemn face I always wear and genuinely smile at people, strangers even. If some other college student could do it, so can I. I am tired of just being another part of the gray scenery. We live in Washington; you know we need some sunshine. If the sun won't provide it, maybe we should?