When I was in eighth grade, I started working as a hostess at a small, family owned bar and grill in my town called Endter’s. I worked there for over two years until the summer before my junior year in highschool. Endter’s is a well-known restaurant in our community, and there are countless regulars. In contrast to working at a big chain restaurant, most of the customers who came in knew me and it created such a positive environment. Although I appreciated all of the regulars, there was one who stood out to me most.

Each week, when I heard the specific creak of the door opening and he walked in, I knew exactly what he was going to say to me. To my surprise, he didn’t say his usual line, but instead one that made my smile grow even more than it already did when I saw him walk in. 

“Never stop smiling. Your smile can truly brighten someone’s day, as it just did mine,” he said.

He was always cheery and smiley, and I didn’t think it was even possible to brighten his day, but somehow, I did. His comment made me think deeply about how a simple smile can make a huge difference in someone’s day. I live by the fact that we never know what someone is going through behind closed doors. Someone may be struggling but do everything in their power to cover it up and act happy. On the flip side, someone may be having a rough day and show it by taking it out on their peers. No matter what the situation is, a simple smile and kindness can impact someone’s day immensely.