WorldofSmiles
AbouttenyearsagowhenIwasanundergraduateincollege,IwasworkingasaninternatmyUniversity'sMuseumofNaturalHistory.Onedaywhileworkingatthecashregisterinthegiftshop,Isawanelderlycouplecomeinwithalittlegirlinawheelchair.
AsIlookedcloseratthisgirl,Isawthatshewaskindofperchedonherchair.Ithenrealizedshehadnoarmsorlegs,justahead,neckandtorso.Shewaswearingalittlewhitedresswithredpolkadots.
AsthecouplewheeledheruptomeIwaslookingdownattheregister.Iturnedmyheadtowardthegirlandgaveherawink.AsItookthemoneyfromhergrandparents,Ilookedbackatthegirl,whowasgivingmethecutest,largestsmileIhaveeverseen.
AllofasuddenherhandicapwasgoneandallIsawwasthisbeautifulgirl,whosesmilejustmeltedmeandalmostinstantlygavemeacompletelynewsenseofwhatlifeisallabout.Shetookmefromapoor,unhappycollegestudentandbroughtmeintoherworld;aworldofsmiles,loveandwarmth.
Thatwastenyearsago.I'masuccessfulbusinesspersonnowandwheneverIgetdownandthinkaboutthetroublesoftheworld,Ithinkaboutthatlittlegirlandtheremarkablelessonaboutlifethatshetaughtme.