Don't cost a DIME

I was walking home from the grocery store and pondering finances, as it seems most people are in this age of Obamanomics. I actually was making a list in my head of things that are free. "Going to the gym is free, why am I not in amazing shape?" I thought. And "taking a hot shower is free(ish)," etc. Well the "why is everything complicated expression" must have been written all over my face because as I passed a seemingly homeless man he ironically said "aint nothin wrong with a smile, ya know."

A few seconds earlier as I was approaching him and he started to speak to me I had expected him to ask me for something (read: money). It would have been the third time on that very walk that I was asked for change by someone so don't blame me for profiling. In this city I have learned to look straight ahead and respond with either nothing or "sorry." But I was caught off guard by his words so instead of nothing or "sorry" I did smile as I passed by, because he was right. There really isn't anything wrong with a smile. And as I smiled and walked away he noticed my changed expression and yelled out for the entire block to hear "see! SEE! Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about people, that shit don't cost a DIME!" and laughed as he, himself, smiled. I smiled even bigger, but this time I made sure to turn back around so he could see it.

His words weren't eloquently spoken but they were poignant. There I was, shuffling my feet along the sidewalk with my head down with thoughts like "if it's not one thing it's another" or "mo' money, mo' problems' (ha! pop-culture-song reference) and this man who seemingly had nothing reminded me, in so few words, that nothing can't be smiled through. I had literally just been making a list of things that were free so I could save some cash and not be so down about it and had left off one of the most important things.

And see? SEE!? That's what *I'M* talking about people. That's some good and needed advice from an unexpected source. And that shit? That shit don't cost a DIME!

Smile,
M.db