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African Smiles

11/8/2012

 
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I was marvelously blessed to travel to South Africa in September. I'm not sure what I expected, but it felt like going home.

I did not understand the languages (the nation has 11 official tongues!).  I did not understand some of the British influenced idioms.  But the smiles were universal.

We were greeted with heartwarming exuberance, hugs and....smiles.

A smile, I soon learned, would bridge any language barrier, smooth over any misunderstanding and welcome any stranger.

I wonder why we don't smile more often?  Have we become so conditioned to defensive communication that we have forgotten how to be welcoming?    Perhaps I will try to be more welcoming. Perhaps I will try to be more inviting.
Perhaps I will try to use an African smile...

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