Gransnet forums

AIBU

A smile costs nothing

(30 Posts)
surfingsal Fri 29-Nov-24 16:29:17

Smiling Is Infectious
by Spike Milligan

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized
I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

what a brilliant poem you just have to smile when you read it .

Flipityflop Sun 15-Dec-24 17:22:06

petal53

I love that poem.
I remember reading it to my class when I was teaching.

Now that did make me smile, thank you smile

BlueBelle Wed 04-Dec-24 17:38:20

We got stuck in a load of mud when my daughter was taking me to hospital one day a lovely young man came and helped us it was a difficult job and he wouldn’t take any reward just said ‘pass it on’ my daughter dropped me off and saw an elderly man waiting for the bus to our town so she asked him if he would like a lift, so yes we passed it on

DamaskRose Wed 04-Dec-24 17:36:59

surfingsal

Smiling Is Infectious
by Spike Milligan

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized
I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

what a brilliant poem you just have to smile when you read it .

I’d never heard that - it’s absolutely brilliant! Let’s all do it! 😀

CanadianGran Wed 04-Dec-24 17:34:40

I just saw this instagram post yesterday, and it was heartwarming. Michael Buble talking about passing along kindness.
www.instagram.com/cbc/reel/DDFto_oJ5SP/

polnan Wed 04-Dec-24 16:51:03

my mum wrote this in my autograph book, many many years ago, just after the war finished I would think.. so I think it may hark back to Victorian times

Smile a little , smile a little as you go along,
not only when life is pleasant but when things go wrong
Care delights to see you frowning
Loves to hear you sigh,
so turn a smiling face upon it
Quick the clouds will fly,

slightly off track some may say,, but... sharing...

jennyvg Wed 04-Dec-24 16:16:32

I find that if you smile at people you don't know in the town where I live, they either ignore you or have a panicked look on their face as if you are about to mug them, smilesmilesad really.

knspol Wed 04-Dec-24 15:19:43

Love that poem, so very true.

Georgesgran Wed 04-Dec-24 14:56:40

My DD’s first school adapted the Brownie Smile song - inserting the school name for Brownie. With the actions, it always brought a smile to watching parents at school events.

Ilovedogs22 Wed 04-Dec-24 14:54:36

Nothing at all wrong with being a smiley chatterer, that's sounds good to me GrannyIvy. 🤗

cc Wed 04-Dec-24 14:18:05

GrannyIvy

I always smile and chat to others when I am out and about. I am probably too chatty sometimes …. Well so my granddaughter tells me but then so is she 😂

My granddaughter asks me if I know them and tells me not to talk to strangers, so if I'm with her I just smile rather than chat.

cc Wed 04-Dec-24 14:17:08

I smile at people too, if they give me the least bit of encouragement. But I'm the one that the odd people always come to sit next to on the bus!

Delila Wed 04-Dec-24 14:04:33

“The smile that you send out returns to you”.

Cossy Wed 04-Dec-24 13:55:17

😊😊😊

Jojo1950 Wed 04-Dec-24 13:44:46

Lovely Poem

Marthjolly1 Tue 03-Dec-24 22:04:24

I'll have to print this out and leave it at the counter of my local post office. I always smile and try to politely engage with the counter staff. I live in hope that one day I'll get a friendly response hmm

GrannyIvy Tue 03-Dec-24 20:58:21

I always smile and chat to others when I am out and about. I am probably too chatty sometimes …. Well so my granddaughter tells me but then so is she 😂

Patsy70 Tue 03-Dec-24 20:48:55

I love this poem. My granddaughter read it out to the school at one of their assemblies. It is so rewarding to smile at someone and have it returned. I do it all the time, and also enjoy a chat with fellow shoppers, passers-by and customers in the charity shop where I volunteer. 😊

Truffle43 Tue 03-Dec-24 20:38:53

I smile and say hello when walking my dog. It is rare when someone doesn’t smile back. I smile a lot while walking as I just enjoy being outdoors when I can. I usually chat to loads of people.

BigBertha1 Tue 03-Dec-24 16:14:30

Beautiful poem!

Eirlys Tue 03-Dec-24 15:58:48

I chat to anyone who is willing to listen to me! My daughter has caught the habit and usually people respond favourably. A smile costs nothing and, as Spike points out, can be infectious!

AGAA4 Tue 03-Dec-24 15:42:37

Love that poem. I remember an older relative saying If someone doesn't have a smile give them one of yours. I found it works mostly. People nearly always smile back.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 03-Dec-24 15:19:11

And this …

I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good.” – Maya Angelou

theworriedwell Tue 03-Dec-24 14:53:13

Makes me think there's an man who never had an orthodontist's bill.

Babs03 Fri 29-Nov-24 19:19:57

I love that poem and do try to smile and have a cheery word when out and about.
Most of the time people are happy to smile back and say something cheery in return, the small minority who don’t I put down to them having a bad day.
🌺🙏🏾

Allira Fri 29-Nov-24 18:11:32

I remember one of my DC doing that for GCSE! Much more fun than some of the poetry I did.