Smile lights up the world

This is Jerry Jampolsky. What do you first notice about him?
His smile? For me that is the key, unmistakable characteristic of this incredible man. I see a genuine, effortlessness, natural smile coupled with a deep sense of caring within his equally smiling eyes.

When ever I see a picture of him, even if it is a picture I’ve not seen before, I instantly recognise his face from the way he smiles.

That is pretty incredible to me. Let me tell you why. For one thing I’ve never met Jerry. For another, I only occasionally come across his picture. He has been on the periphery of my life. He made a brief but big impact on me when I was a young man some 22 years ago. The fairly simple and straightforward book of his called ‘Love is Letting Go of Fear’ remains one of the touchstone volumes I feel privileged to have discovered, read and taken to heart.

I will speak of Jerry’s writings and his philosophies at another time. For now I merely want to say a few things about the smiling face he presents to the world.

When I saw my first picture of Jerry he was smiling. It was not just any smile, but one that lit up his entire face and seemed to emanate towards anyone who happened to be looking his way. I felt this even though I was viewing him in a grainy black-and-white picture on the sleevenotes of his book.

His smile transcends so much. It seems to cut through barriers and speaks to the heart.

If I was in a room with Jerry, or happened to be passing by him as a stranger in the street, I would be uplifted by the warmth that he generates by the smile that so defines him.

Search the internet and you’ll find many pictures of Jerry Jampolsky. I’ve yet to see one where he isn’t smiling. This is his natural state. And, to me, what more wonderful state can there be than to have smile like this to share constantly with everyone you meet.

When I see pictures of Jerry I feel blessed indeed that the world contains such wonderful, cheerful souls, and it makes me want to put a smile on my face, cultivate that feeling and make it a part of who I am. I hope by writing this I may have introduced a few more people to the power of a smile, and maybe some curiousity for Jerry Jampolsky, who is still going strong at 84. He and his foundation can be found at http://www.jerryjampolskyanddianecirincione.com/