What has your facial expression been over the last several weeks? The last year? 

Recently, I’ve found myself smiling more. One reason is because we started filming the videos for our rehabilitation promoter course: Introduction to Community Based Rehabilitation and Basic Skills for Rehabilitation Promoters. I’ve learned I need to smile when I’m making the videos. 

• Smiling helps me to relax.
• Smiling makes me look less angry or nervous when I’m speaking.
• Smiling helps me present the information in the tone of voice I desire.

But I have to be honest, sometimes I don’t feel much like smiling. It’s hard to smile when

• I can’t remember my lines.
• I thought I had the perfect take only to find out there was a problem with the audio or the camera angle.
• I’ve shot the same section multiple times and it just isn’t working.
• I’m seeing circles of light as I try to eat lunch from recording in front of the ring light.
• I can’t get a good clip because of noise from a plane, car, cat, or the wind.
• I can’t remember my Spanish.
• The Spanish words come out of my mouth during the English recording.

I’ll be honest, sometimes I just want to quit. It just seems too hard and like too much work!

But then I remember the smile and tears of a mom as her child walked alone for the first time. Or the smile of a dad as he realizes there is help for his daughter. Or the smile of a young man when the rehabilitation promoters helped him learn to walk after his family had given up on him because they thought his condition was due to drug abuse and not Guillain–Barré. Or the smile of the rehabilitation promoters as they learn a new skill they know will help someone else. 

When I remember all these smiles and more, regardless of how I feel, I put a smile on my face and try again. It will be worth it to see what other smiles this work might bring. I’ll smile in anticipation of the hope and joy that lie ahead, regardless of current circumstances. 

What about you? Have you been smiling recently? Did you know smiling, regardless of how you feel, can make your voice more pleasant when you answer the phone, decrease your blood pressure, and increase your immune function? Let’s be people that smile because of the hope and joy to come.