Stephanie’s Back with Smiles!

Note from Audra:  Remember Stephanie’s Scoop about our Mt. Vernon Traffic Stopping Ladies?  Well, she’s back with more heartwarming stories to share with us.  This time she’s all over our community finding people that will make you smile!  Personally, Stephanie makes ME smile 🙂

Submitted by Stephanie Kayhan:

A while ago, I was in line with my son at Costco waiting to have our receipt checked. If there is not a long line, most of the time, the receipt checkers will very happily draw a smiley face on the back of the receipt for kids.  My son just loves this.  Over the years, we’ve gotten many different kinds of smiley faces.  Sometimes they are very simple. Other times, the inner artist of the Costco worker comes out with elaborate smiley faces complete with ears, eyebrows and lashes, hair and and once, even a hat.  One morning, the woman behind us must have seen my son’s glee at holding his smiley face receipt.  She caught up with me as we were walking out and said, “Look at the power of a smile!”  In that moment, her sentence took on a new meaning for me.  I had always thought about the power of a smile being on someone’s FACE. Yes, she was right.  A smile can change a mood, give hope and encouragement…it can make one’s day.  But today, I realized that a simple smiley face has that very same power.  I left Costco feeling so happy that day.  I thought about smiles and words, about people and faces.  I started to think about the people that we see every day…some familiar, others complete strangers.  I thought about the truth of the line, “Everyone is facing a battle we know nothing about. Be careful with judgment.”  Quite simply, I thought about people and how much I love interacting with them, talking with them, learning about them.  I thought about their stories, their lives, their mantras, their passions and their dreams. I thought about all of the people that I see and chat with in my tiny little corner of Dunwoody.  I thought about our community.  I thought about how nowadays the rarity of talking with people is something quite sad and unfortunate.

We get lost in screens, not looking up to notice the world around us.  We choose to text rather than talk with our friends. We lose sight of what is really important…the people around us and making connections, making lasting impressions, the potential of changing our worlds, even if in the slightest way, all because of something we gain by making that personal contact.  We need these personal connections.  They make us better people.  I was taught at a very early age how important it is to use people’s names when speaking with them.  The most beautiful sound is that of one’s own name.  We hear our names and something happens to us…a bell of sorts goes off in our heads.  We are instantly aware, present and focused when we hear someone say our names. 

The other day when I was at the gym, I was reminded of this when I was greeted by name as I entered.  My point is, it is the simplest of things in life that bring us the greatest joy.  To see a smile, to hear our name…to notice and acknowledge those we live with in this wonderful community of Dunwoody. I want to bring to you some stories that tell you about people in Dunwoody.  It is my hope that perhaps after hearing stories, you can believe in all the goodness in the world, be moved by a simple sentence or new thought, and maybe lift your head up to smile at a cashier, ask about their day, call a server by his/her name, give a firm handshake, look a stranger in the eye and say ‘Good morning!’

I want to share with you some experiences I’ve had with people who I see frequently, people who I’ve made a connection with for various reasons, friends I’ve met through the most unlikely circumstances.   I want you to hear about the things that matter to them, what they appreciate and learn something about the people that we see daily.  I hope to encourage you to make a connection of your own.  We all have the power to touch others’ lives. Kindness matters. Let’s celebrate community, connections and what glorious things come about when people are acknowledged.