There is a famous quote saying "You are not fully dressed until you wear a smile”. Everybody is familiar with the facial expression loved by all that is a, "smile”. The dictionary meaning of the word smile is-to form one’s features into an amused, pleasant or friendly expression, with corners of mouth turned up.

A smile is something loved by most people world over. It cuts across barriers of cultures, nationality, language or religion. It is universally accepted as a gesture of friendliness. If the word, SMILE, is broken up it conveys so many things. "S”-conveys sweetness, "M”, stands for magnificence and mercy, "I”, indicates how one’s face gets illuminated while smiling,” L”, shows that it is a precursor for laughter and, "E”, stands for enjoyment. It is a fact.  One or more or all of these qualities are conveyed by an individual just by smiling.

It is also a gesture of friendliness. When you see a person smiling, you automatically feel drawn to that person.   Nobody can be cross with a smiling person for a long time. A smile also enhances the beauty of an individual. Anybody looks beautiful while smiling and in contrast, a very beautiful man or woman will look ugly while scowling or frowning.

When one smiles, it signals to those around that all is fine and that they are happy and contented. Smiling also can make other people around smile, as a wholehearted smile is contagious at all times. It shall change the mood of somebody feeling miserable and make him feel happy and optimistic about his or her problems.

Smiling has so many advantages and has no harm. It is a natural quality available free of charge. Nobody has to pay a single penny for smiling.

Therefore folks, everyone should try to keep smiling, whatever happens. Those who are already smiling should never deviate from this beautiful and healthy habit!

The writer is a 17-year- old teenage girl in Kigali.

arundhati94@yahoo.co.uk