Smile a day….keeps the doctor away

Way back, when I was in 7^th standard, I was a below average student. All the efforts made by dad to make me better in studies failed. As a last resort he sent me to learn yoga. It was fun. I loved going there and spending my time. By end of the training I had become one of the favorites of my Guruji. But then my guruji knew that once the classes are over I would not put in efforts to practice and would soon forget everything I learnt (which turned out to be true). On the last day he took a promise from me. He wanted me to give away 2 seconds, everyday for the rest of my life, to him. I found the request very strange. But I promised, and asked him what he wanted me to do. The task was as strange as the promise. He informed that different people have different habit and different practices. Every day when one gets up they love to see few things in particular. Few people like to see a picture, of may be a god, family member or anyone else. Few people like looking at others, someone from the family (wife, husband, son, ……). Few like to look at their hands and then there are these other few with strange habits like looking at a currency note. He wanted me to look at myself in the mirror and smile for those 2 seconds everyday as soon as I get up. I agreed. I was too young to understand the impact. Today when I look back, I realize that it did this change my life. In 10^th standard I stood first in a couple of subjects. In my entrance exam for BCA I stood 12 in the entire state. Today I am not scared standing in front of a group and speaking. May be a little nervous but not scared for sure.

What happened in these years that brought in this change? Did that practice do any magic on me? I don’t know if it is the only reason. But I know for sure that it is one of them.

I have been practicing this for the last 15 years and this has become a habit. No matter where I am, even if I am travelling, the minute I get up I have to look at myself and smile. Everyday I start my day with a smile and I believe that smile is the most contagious disease. The moment we see a pleasing smile we land up smiling without knowing about it. And the fever spreads immediately. I ensure I give this virus to myself everyday and consequently give it to everyone in the family. The entire family starts the day with a smile. How can such a start ever go bad? This is what I have believed for a long time now. And this has kept depression far away from me even in the worse times. And also the doctors because how can a happy man fall sick? The chances are low and I have kept doctors away for quite some time.

I have always imaged how beautiful the world would be if every family practices this. Everyday, every family starts the day with a smile…..wow….wouldn’t that be amazing? Anyone coming around anyone looks at a smiling face and there is smile everywhere. I know the dream is way too ambitious. But if my family can do it, why not others? Now does this mean there would be no sadness in the world? No, sadness and pain will always be there. Pressure of family, job, and better life will exist till we human exist. But we can play our part in reducing this pain from our lives.

And as I said this would also keep the doctors away as happy people do not fall sick. So, A smile a day, keeps the doctor away. But then what if the doctor is too cute and has a wonderful smile?? Would we really want to be away from the doctor? For this I would say, A smile, from the cute doctor, a day keeps the medicines away.