Recently, I was traveling to the East Coast and, yet again, was wowed by MSP Airport. From the curb to the end of TSA screening took a whopping four minutes. Needless to say, I was a happy camper.
As I proceeded, I found myself smiling — genuinely — at everyone who was serving me. I thanked the officers for their service during the shutdown. I helped my fellow travelers stack their bins. I smiled at those who were waiting with me at the end of the belt, moving our luggage through screening.
Rather than giving me the hairy eyeball like I’d lost my mind, I noticed something to the contrary. Everyone I smiled at smiled back. They expressed words of appreciation for my little helpful gestures. Made observations. Suddenly, what had been a sort of somber lot was connected.
This left me pondering the power of a smile. When you think of it, making a connection with others doesn’t get much simpler. And it’s obvious why it works: A smile communicates warmth, openness, and welcome. It signals to others that we are approachable and safe. In a world where many people feel rushed or unseen, a smile can be a tiny act of kindness that shifts the energy of an entire interaction.
I recently heard a news segment that talked about an added plus: the real health benefits tucked inside that small gesture. Smiling triggers the release of “feel-good” neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which help reduce stress and stabilize mood. Research shows that even pretending to smile can gently nudge the body toward relaxation. Over time, this softens the physical symptoms of tension — lowering heart rate, easing muscles, and contributing to a general sense of calm.
Spiritually, smiling can be a practice of presence and gratitude. Think about some of the holy ones we have experienced.I think of the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu, who co-authored “The Book of Joy.” I can’t think of a single picture I’ve seen of them scowling.
Many faith traditions speak of joy not as a shallow emotion but as a deep awareness of life’s sacredness. A smile can be a quiet expression of that awareness — a way of saying, “Life is good, God is near, and hope is real,” even in small ways. The Dalai Lama is quoted as saying, “A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, acknowledged as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, said, “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
Smiling is contagious in the best possible way. When we smile, others instinctively tend to mirror it, creating a ripple effect of warmth. In community settings — whether a church gathering, a neighborhood, business or school meeting, or a simple trip to the grocery store — a shared smile can soften barriers and create space for belonging. It costs nothing, requires no preparation, and yet can make an outsized impact on the emotional and spiritual climate around us.
All this is by way of saying that it strikes me that smiling might be an easy, daily spiritual discipline — one that reminds us to pause, breathe, and notice the goodness that still surrounds us. After all, as Annie reminded us in the musical bearing her name, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile!” (Earworm, enter here!)
And here’s the funny thing: I’m not sure smiling has to start as genuine. After the TSA line, I kept experimenting — just smiling randomly at people. Some of them stared back like I was a bit cracked. But others responded in kind. Certainly all the children did.
Maybe that’s a reminder that the encrustations of cynicism or fear can blunt our ease with this simple connection.
So, as they say in the 12 Step Movement, “Fake it ’til you make it.” The great Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh observed, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
I’m trying it on this season. I hope you’ll consider joining me.
Editor’s note: This column was written by the Rev. Trish Sullivan Vanni, Ph.D., pastoral director and priest of the Charis Ecumenical Catholic Community in Eden Prairie.
Interested in contributing a faith-based column to EPLN? Email editor@eplocalnews.org.
