I am writing this note from the Philippines. It has been a while since I visited this country. My immediate reaction of the atmosphere here is so overwhelming that I must document it to prevent my memory from betraying me in the future.

One phenomena which cannot be misread for a second is the smiling people. Regardless of age, gender or race, I encounter smiles all around. During the first evening in the Philippines, I gave a presentation to some CEOs, that are colleagues of mine from YPO. My pre-requirements before I give presentations are quite strict (prior to the meeting I checked the sound, the room setup, the projector and other minor issues) and can at times annoy busy support people. But the SMILES were there, and they surrounded me from every corner.

People on the streets, with nothing to eat, are smiling. A policeman, standing on a traffic island in the middle of a noisy and polluted intersection, perspiring from the humidity of the tropical weather, is smiling, the guard in front of the hotel working a twelve-hour shift, is smiling, the President of the hotel chain, walking in a hurry, is smiling. Something here in the Republic of the Philippines, makes people smile.

What is it about the power of a smile that makes us feel so good? Why is it that so many people around us don’t smile? Why do we avoid such a simple and non-costly expression which can make us and others feel so much better?

Here are some famous quotes referring to smiles:

• “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss
• “Peace begins with a smile.” – Mother Teresa
• “And then he gives me a smile that just seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness that unexpected warmth rushes through me.” – Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
• “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” – Mother Teresa
• “I was smiling yesterday, I am smiling today and I will smile tomorrow. Simply because life is too short to cry for anything.” – Santosh Kalwar

One day our driver, who was driving with no GPS or maps, was extremely apologetic and embarrassed when for two unnecessary hours he got lost and was driving in circles, crawling in heavy traffic. I was tired, sweaty and started to feel that familiar “western anger” bubbling up in my stomach. I was just about to say something when he turned back and with a shy smile, filling his face with light, he said how sorry he was. That smile, made us melt. If there is such a small and easy gesture which can enlighten us all, shouldn’t we use it more often?!