The gift of a smile...

I've been meaning to write about this for some time. But as happens with all amazing things, they're just never far from the front of your mind.

When I was in high school, one of my very good friends, Kameela, gave me a "just because" card. The message was simple, but poignant:

"Today, give a stranger the gift of your smile. It's the best gift you have."

Many great things have been tossed around in my head in the years between, but this little random card stuck tight to my memory. To this day, I try to give at least one stranger a smile-a pure, genuine smile-especially if they look cranky or sad. I myself have had the same happen to me when I was cranky or sad (receiving a random smile from a stranger), and it's amazing what a boost that was for my day.

As a bonus, when you smile, you can't help but look fantastic. :) Some of my very favorite smiles from this summer: