Someone once told me that a smiling face is a beautiful face. Now when I think about it, I could not agree more. Whatever you might be wearing, if you have a smile on your face, it is beautiful. Still don’t agree, go in front of a mirror and smile — you shall find the most beautiful person in the world standing right there!!!

Smiling is definitely one of the best beauty remedies. If you have a good sense of humor and a good approach to life, that’s beautiful — Rashida Jones

A confident smiling face never gets out of fashion. Every smile is beautiful and every smile is infectious. Yet they are all not the same — some are more beautiful than the other.

Ever wonder how many different types of smiles are there? Let’s explore!!!

I. The smile of a innocence 😃

We yet again saw for the umpteenth time Jerry beat Tom, and erupted in a laughter like we had never seen it before.

Our happiness was not for ourselves but for a small mouse, whom we had never met. That laughter was the most cheerful, heartfelt and infectious.

Still trying to imagine, here is another clue —imagine the smile of an infant when you giggle him on feet. He/she would erupt in a laughter, and would definitely force you to smile as well.

That is the smile of innocence — pure, unadulterated and infectious. A laughter that does not control itself, and is purely about enjoying that one particular moment, without thinking what was in the past and what lies ahead in the future.

Unfortunately, as we grow older, we start thinking too much and hence lose that smile of innocence.

II. The lonely smile of gratitude 😊

The smile that happens when you are alone, busy doing something, and suddenly a happy thought crosses your mind — be it a small memory from the past, a visual from your favorite vacation trip, a loving moment from a date you last went on, or the memory of a time when you saw your kids growing up.

It brings a silent smile on your face, you don’t laugh but just pass a smile to your own thoughts. There is no one around to acknowledge your smile, yet it is a beautiful conversation with your own self.

That is the smile of gratitude where through our smiles we say “Thank You!!!” to life itself for all the good moments it has presented to us.

I suggest all the readers take a pause here, think of a happy moment and experience the lonely smile of gratitude!!

III. Smile that accompanies a tear 😇

When sunshine accompanies a rain, a rainbow appears. Such is the beauty of a smile that accompanies a tear.

A smile that touches us so deep in heart, that it comes out in the form of a tear. Sometimes we are so happy that our smiles are simply insufficient to justify the emotions. Hence, our heart compensates it with tears of joy.

Truly blessed are those who have experienced this.

IV. Laughter with friends

A smile with friends is always different.

The gathering where all your friends have gathered, you make the silliest of jokes and then erupt in loud laughter😄. Any passerby would consider you to be a fool for laughing at such nonsense jokes — let them think whatever they want to think, you are definitely not bothered by it.

Maybe still not as good as the infant’s smile of laughter, but this is the closest adults can go in terms of matching them.

V. Smile that comes out of despair

I wonder if others feel the same way.

Imagine a time when things are absolutely out of control. You have tried everything and nothing has worked. There is only one option left which is to accept the situation rather than fight it anymore. You shrug it with a sad smile thinking such is life, and just move forward.

I have experienced this, and wonder if others have felt it as well. This smile is very powerful as it gives us some positivity to deal with the worst of conditions.

We discussed earlier the beauty of a tear in the happiest moments. This is the exact opposite — i.e. the beauty of a smile in the toughest conditions. And both are equally beautiful — just like a rainbow.

“I love those who can smile in trouble.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

VI. Smile that mocks someone — The smile to avoid

A smile that comes at the cost of someone’s else humiliation, or by bullying someone, or by making someone else sad, is not worth called a smile — maybe a disgrace to our own self.

Our happiness should never be at the cost of someone’s else pain, and this is the type of smile we should just avoid.

Special mention: The Jim Carrey Smile

Hard to describe this gem — the person mocks himself rather than anyone else, and makes everyone smile: the exact opposite of smile # 6. I do not know how he projects this smile on camera, yet am always amazed by it.

There is innocence, foolishness and true happiness in this smile. This is a service to mankind and I wonder if there is anything nobler than this.

Please share your thoughts about the article, and what is the moment that brings “The smile of gratitude” on your face.
 — Enjoy reading on Medium? Buy a membership for full access.
 — Ko-Fi account (Buy me a cup of tea 😃)||Twitter