The Universal Power of a Smile: Building Human and Empathic Connections

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 Smiling has always been my identity. I can’t recall introducing myself without a smile—it’s so integral to who I am that imagining any other way feels impossible. But I often wonder: does my smile represent my authentic self, or has it become a mask?

This question came to me during my travels, particularly last summer in the beautiful region of Bretagne, France. A stranger there asked me if my smile was nervous. The question made me burst into laughter—it was such an unexpected observation. I can guarantee, though, that my smile is anything but nervous; it’s a sincere reflection of my energy and authenticity.


Wherever I travel, my smile comes with me, breaking barriers, opening doors, and connecting hearts. It has an uncanny ability to create bridges across languages and cultures.

Take Kuala Lumpur, for example. I arrived at the Malaysian airport with a huge teddy bear strapped to my bag and my signature smile. I didn’t know a single word of Malay, yet as I wandered around looking for a bus to the city center, countless people pointed at my backpack, smiling and laughing. Their reactions turned what could have been a stressful moment into a shared connection.

Or imagine me on the Mongolian steppes, riding horses with my ever-present smile. Even in such remote landscapes, people responded to it with curiosity and kindness, giving me smiles in return.

Smiling is free, generous, and altruistic. But its reception isn’t universal. I’ve also experienced moments where my smile was met with cold indifference. I remember arriving in Paris during rush hour, my big backpack and teddy bear in tow, and smiling at the strangers around me. The responses? Blank stares or avoidance.

One of the most striking memories I have of a smile being misunderstood was during my time as a student in Bordeaux. I had just moved from Toulouse, fresh-faced and full of optimism. On my first tram ride, I smiled at an older woman, only for her to glare at me like I was an alien. That moment stayed with me. It taught me how smiles could be perceived differently in urban settings but didn’t stop me from offering them freely.

The Smile as a Social Mask: The Possible Risk of Ambiguity

Smiling has its ambiguities, too. Especially for autistic people—or for those like me, who suspect we might function differently from societal norms—a smile can sometimes serve as a mask.

When people casually ask, “How are you?” they rarely expect a detailed response. And as a teenager navigating social services, a violent relationship, and inner turmoil, I learned to use my smile as armor. It protected me from questions I wasn’t ready to answer, allowed me to cope with overwhelming emotions, and kept me from sinking into despair.

I can see how this aligns with the philosophy of the “inner smile.” By smiling through the pain, I found a way to stay disciplined, hopeful, and connected to my joy. Over time, this practice shaped who I am today. My smile, once a survival tool, is now my truest identity.


Smiling as a Virus of Positivity

Throughout my travels and encounters, people often tell me, “Don’t ever lose your smile.” They don’t know the price it once cost me. At 15, I left home under difficult circumstances and ended up in an abusive relationship. My boyfriend at the time tried to weaponize my smile, accusing me of using it to provoke or seduce others.

For years, his words made me withdraw. I stopped sharing my smile freely, even with friends. But with time, I realized his perspective said more about him than about me. Slowly, I reclaimed my smile, letting it define me instead of letting the violence I endured do so.

Through these experiences, I learned an essential truth: emotions are contagious. We can spread despair and suffering just as easily as we can spread joy and gratitude. I made a choice: I wanted to be a virus of positivity.

A Challenge: Let’s Spread the Smile

- If by any chance we’ve met, how did my smile make you feel?

Here’s a challenge for you: tomorrow, try smiling at a stranger for no reason other than kindness. Come back and share your experience:
- How did you feel when you smiled?
- How did the person react?
- What would your life be like if strangers smiled at you more often?

Smile—it’s free, natural, and contagious. Let’s spread it everywhere!

Share, comment, support, and subscribe—more anecdotes, travel guides, and insights are on the way!

Smile Like If There Is No Tomorrow

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