Smiles on the Trail

Misty grey morning on the Coastal Trail. A cold wind is blowing in from the ocean and I’m shivering in my jacket.

Every once in a while the shape of a person emerges from the mist. A middle-aged woman in a running outfit, jogging. Teenagers with backpacks, running. An old man in a grey cap walking slowly, carefully. An old woman with a cane, walking her dog. I can see that each person is also a little chilly. We all share that.

I decide to smile at each person I meet this morning when they get close enough. Nice to meet you, I say silently. Isn’t it wonderful to be sharing this amazing space? People smile back at me. Some look surprised. Others look like they’ve been ready for a while to meet someone to share a smile with.

Each smile ignites another. It feels like walking with a candle and lighting other candles along the way. In both directions, north and south, the trail is now lit up with smiles.