Al-Amn Magazine

e all aspire to make the world smile and for smiles to shine on the faces of those around us. This is not just a matter of hope and ambition, but rather a matter of human nature, which inspires us to feel comfortable and reassured, and even give hope for a better tomorrow. All this with a simple smile. But the question is: Where do we begin?What we present in this article is not merely a theoretical call to smile, but rather an attempt to provide the foundation for this smile and how we can instill it in our children so that it becomes a way of life and a way of dealing with everything they face. As the French philosopher Voltaire said, a smile «melts ice, spreads comfort, heals wounds, and is the key to pure human relationships.» A smiling face inspires comfort, reassurance, and happiness among those around it and we believe that this face, brimming with hope, must be nurtured by positive thinking... thinking that leads to a mature sense of self... the path to a smiling expression. It’s true that God Almighty has given us the gift of contemplation and reflection on the universe, but what’s important is to seek out the positive aspects of life and build upon them, while simultaneously expelling negative thoughts that only reside in pessimistic souls.French scientist Pierre Vachetz concluded in his research that smiling «dilates the arteries and veins, stimulates blood circulation, deepens breathing, and carries oxygen to the furthest reaches of the body.» Furthermore, it increases mental activity and intellectual depth.Yes, a mere smile does all of this for us. But of course, it’s not just a movement of the facial muscles. Rather, it must stem from a healthy psychological reserve, from a positive, kind spirit. As the great Lebanese poet Elia Abu Madi said in his poem «Philosophy of Life,» «He who has no beauty in his soul... sees nothing beautiful in existence.» Therefore, each of us must instill this positive spirit in our children, teaching them to have good souls that know nothing but love and hope, adopt positive thoughts as a method and path, and reject all that is negative.It’s true that our lives and work are filled with many worries and concerns, and we may sometimes be unable to prevent their repercussions from appearing on our faces. But the most important challenge is spreading smiles and hope among those around us, and instilling this spirit in our children and keeping them away from pessimistic thoughts.They are like seeds we plant in the ground, which grow before our eyes. Every day, they change in size, color, and bloom. You feel as though they are smiling back at you because you helped them survive and provided them with the means to grow. Smile, my dears... and you will find life better. A smile will cost you nothing, and you will not pay for it. Be confident that sadness brings only illness and pessimism to those who bear it, while a smile opens the way to love, hope, and a future. b i n d a i n a@b a t e l c o . c om . b h Maj. Gen. Mohammed Bin Daina Smi l e . . . i t ’ s t he pat h to hope W Asmiling face inspires comfort, reassurance, andhappiness amongthose around LASTWORD