Hey there :) . Morning, baby :) . Hello :) ….
That’s how a regular day at work starts for me. There’s always my best friend or my boyfriend or some very special friend who’s online on whatever instant-messaging programme, and I always do greet them with a smile. That is, with a smiling emoticon.
But this has not always been the case. Many many years ago, as I was first discovering the internet, I felt very confused about using emoticons, simply because I couldn’t imagine how one small picture can actually convey a feeling or state of mind. But then I read somewhere that one of the secrets of successful marketing is to smile while on the phone with a potential customer. To always smile. Because, apparently, the smile can actually be felt in your voice…
So, if the smile does the trick over the phone, why shouldn’t it work the same when over… skype, or google talk, or yahoo messenger?... Furthermore, if a smile can have such a strong influence on my voice, can you imagine what it would do to my attitude?
I’ve got a second hand car. Its name is “Vrabiutza”, although I prefer to use “her” when talking about it. I have a very special relationship with “her”. The simple fact that I’ve actually given “her” a name says a lot. Also, whenever I have some problems with the engine or whatever (or with my not-so-perfect driving skills), I talk to her... actually, I try to talk her into behaving. And if you think that’s nuts, you should see the way she actually responds to it. :)
There’s many more things to this world than just the part we see with our eyes. And it just so happens I strongly believe objects do have their own aura and vibes and we do interact with them. That probably explains why my car is more likely to run well when I’m talking to her nicely, rather than leave someone else who’s driving it curse it and get mad at it…
But this whole thing can be taken even further. I believe not many of us are aware of how much of a difference a smile and a gentle word can make. It’s not that it makes it easier for us to sell things or makes us more persuasive or whatever. It’s not that more people will like us if we smile than if we don’t. It’s also not about being popular or successful or trying to appear kinder than we really are. It’s really a matter of how a smile can transform us inside. Sure, life is not a bed of roses, but when we do hurt ourselves with a thorn it might be worth trying to smile about it. And while I’m not an advocate of the automatic “American” smile, I do believe this is something worth putting some effort into. So maybe next time I want to do something, no matter how small that thing is, I might as well try to do it with a smile. :)
That’s how a regular day at work starts for me. There’s always my best friend or my boyfriend or some very special friend who’s online on whatever instant-messaging programme, and I always do greet them with a smile. That is, with a smiling emoticon.
But this has not always been the case. Many many years ago, as I was first discovering the internet, I felt very confused about using emoticons, simply because I couldn’t imagine how one small picture can actually convey a feeling or state of mind. But then I read somewhere that one of the secrets of successful marketing is to smile while on the phone with a potential customer. To always smile. Because, apparently, the smile can actually be felt in your voice…
So, if the smile does the trick over the phone, why shouldn’t it work the same when over… skype, or google talk, or yahoo messenger?... Furthermore, if a smile can have such a strong influence on my voice, can you imagine what it would do to my attitude?
I’ve got a second hand car. Its name is “Vrabiutza”, although I prefer to use “her” when talking about it. I have a very special relationship with “her”. The simple fact that I’ve actually given “her” a name says a lot. Also, whenever I have some problems with the engine or whatever (or with my not-so-perfect driving skills), I talk to her... actually, I try to talk her into behaving. And if you think that’s nuts, you should see the way she actually responds to it. :)
There’s many more things to this world than just the part we see with our eyes. And it just so happens I strongly believe objects do have their own aura and vibes and we do interact with them. That probably explains why my car is more likely to run well when I’m talking to her nicely, rather than leave someone else who’s driving it curse it and get mad at it…
But this whole thing can be taken even further. I believe not many of us are aware of how much of a difference a smile and a gentle word can make. It’s not that it makes it easier for us to sell things or makes us more persuasive or whatever. It’s not that more people will like us if we smile than if we don’t. It’s also not about being popular or successful or trying to appear kinder than we really are. It’s really a matter of how a smile can transform us inside. Sure, life is not a bed of roses, but when we do hurt ourselves with a thorn it might be worth trying to smile about it. And while I’m not an advocate of the automatic “American” smile, I do believe this is something worth putting some effort into. So maybe next time I want to do something, no matter how small that thing is, I might as well try to do it with a smile. :)
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