Monday, March 7, 2011

Smile.

Do Smiles translate over the phone, I wondered last week. Yes they do, you all replied. But me being an eternal skeptic, I had to check it out. It was easy enough to do, since I share office space with a bunch of people I do not know.

Everytime anyone made a call, I tried to guess if they were smiling or not. I guessed right every single time. Strangely, or perhaps not, the ones who seemed to be having more successful conversations were the ones who started off the call with a smile.

Smile. What's your excuse not to?

_____
drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.


To put a SMILE back on the faces of some of those affected by the recent earthquake in New Zealand, and to have a chance to win some great books, do visit Margot Kinberg's "Do the Write Thing". 

15 comments:

Meera said...

How do you get such apt pix!

Natasha said...

Can I make a confession, Meera? The picture came before the post. I took the picture at a Home for kids of Commercial Sex Workers (both the kids are), and when I was editing photographs at work (and for work), the post wrote itself.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm trying to remember to smile even when on the phone!

Anonymous said...

Rayna - First, thank you so much for linking to Do the Write Thing. It's awfully kind of you and certainly made me smile :-). And I agree; smiles do translate. And they make such a difference in even the simplest everyday experiences. Just a smile to a cashier in a story can completely change that person's day, especially if there've been a lot of grumpy, rude customers.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I always smile when talking on the phone - you really can tell the difference.

Natasha said...

@ Alex - please do- I know it does translate. And people who smile seem to have easier and more successful phone conversations.

@ Margot - my apologies for not linking either. Have been really ill for the last three days, and all the posts were scheduled ones that I did not have the mind-space to interrupt.
And yes, I do smile in person, specially at people who I think have been at the receiving end of rudeness.

Natasha said...

@ Diane - we cross posted. Yes, you can tell the difference! And even if you can't, how does it hurt?

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I've always thought it was amazing what we can tell from a phone call. Smiles do translate...and I can also usually peg the age of the person on the other end, too. Not that that has anything to do with smiles, which is a lot more pleasant, but I've puzzled over it.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

If I'm making the call, knowing who I am calling and why can make me smile. The voice of an incoming call can make me smile -- sometimes after the call is over.

LTM said...

I'm smiling as I type this--can you tell? :D Of course, you can. B/c I <3 U! And great post--I think it's the shape of your mouth that others can hear... maybe it's the happy~ :o)

Ella said...

I think when we smile, the mouth turns up the eyes get expressive, then the voice follows. I'm going to go test it out, too~

Cute photo!!!

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Good point, Rayna. I think it’s harder to be upset or mad about something when there’s a smile on your face.

Marjorie said...

Awesome post as usual! Love the photo.

Deb and Barbara said...

My favourite part of this blog? The pic that so perfectly illustrates your point!
B

Natasha said...

@ Elizabeth - I am never able to guess the age of a person, but yes, the smile comes through.

@ Mary - I really envy the people who can have you keep smiling AFTER the call. They are the lucky ones for being able to spread so much cheer.

@ Leigh - of course I can tell. I picture you as always smiling- we share a birhtday after all.

@ Ella - let me know how you fared.

@ Jane - absolutely. When you are looking for it, you can always tell.

@ Marjorie - thank you.

@ Barbara - thank you. The photograph wrote the story, actually.

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