"A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive,
without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory
of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get
along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A
smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is
the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the
discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something
that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too
tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so
much as he who has no more to give."

-- based on the writings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch

A smile is such a precious thing. So often used that we take it
for granted. Look around; smiles are everywhere. From the most depressing
depths of poverty to the fenced in lives of the wealthy, we all find
something to smile about. A smile helps us display our feelings to the
world. Feelings of love, joy, or just pure uncensored laughter; all put on
display with a smile. The darkest of days; brightened by a simple
"flexing" of seventeen muscle in the mouth. Smiles are crooked teeth,
perfect teeth and everything in between. Rich or poor, black or white, boy
or girl, everyone deserves a smile. Smiles all convey some type of emotion
that is tangible and real. A joy that can be felt and almost held. A
smile is as warm as an embrace but as simple as a sunrise. A flood of
unbelievable emotion can come crashing down on you just from a simple curl
of the lip.
Smiles can be one of the most romantic things in the world. A
communication without words. An understanding of emotions and character.
Even a smile of understanding gives you some of the greatest pleasures that
can be imaginable. A smile reflects a feeling that is so universally
understood that it is too hard to define. It is soft, knowing and as
beautiful as a butterfly. A smile that is shared between lovers can be as
calming as a lake or as exciting as a shooting star. The thought of it can
make you complete or leave you desperately wanting. There is no greater
feeling in this world than seeing a smile after a longing kiss and knowing
that you can spread joy to so many people with such a simple gesture. You
lose nothing, save maybe half a calorie but you gain a world of knowledge
and understanding. Smiles complete you and make you feel whole. Without
smiles there is nothing in life to look forward to.
A smile is like a time machine. It can bring you back to the days<...