I have a friend with the same philosophy.

I've known her about 4 years now, has the prettiest smile. One day she was in a really bad mood and was explaining to me, but she still beamed her brightest smile at everyone we walked past.

"All this your wahala (problem) and you're still smiling at people?"

She chuckled and replied that you never know who needs a smile. That if she carried a frown around that she might help make more unhappy people, and who wants that?

She added that although she didn't have it on record that her smile helped anyone, she didn't see any harm in trying.

This post reminded me of her. I'm going to tell her that there is in fact a record; my 1st day in university, looking confused with my monstrously patchy beard and dorky glasses, and a bright beaming face looking up at me solving all the problems I didn't even know I had.

A few words are indeed powerful. But even if you don't have those, a simple smile will suffice.