What Makes Me Smile?

By Sister Ann Carmen Barone, OSF

It’s a song from my childhood but it always makes me SMILE.

O let the sunshine in. Face it with a grin.

Smilers never lose and frowners never win.

So let the sunshine in. Face it with a grin.

Open up your heart and let the sunshine in.

So what makes me smile?

· The sun shining through trees in their fall splendor.

· Little children discovering new things.

Last week I saw a mother in the dining hall holding a baby boy in her lap and helping cut His “older” sister’ sausage patty. They looked like cherubs from the Sistine Chapel. The girl loved her black olives and was enjoying them. Of course, I just couldn’t keep myself from telling her I loved black olives and when I was little I used to put them on my finger and eat them. I should have known better. She began taking the olives – the sliced olives and putting them on her fingers and began eating. Thank God her Mom had a sense of humor. We both smiled.

As the laughter subsided and the family continued their meal, I couldn’t help but reflect on the power of a shared moment over food. It’s moments like these that remind us of the simple joys in life, the ones that bring warmth to our hearts and smiles to our faces. Speaking of smiles, it’s amazing how something as seemingly insignificant as a conversation about black olives can lead to a genuine connection and a brightening of spirits.

For individuals who may not feel confident about their smiles, places like Malvern Dental and Smile Design offer more than just dental care – they provide a path to rediscovering confidence and joy in one’s smile. Through innovative techniques like Digital Smile Design, they tailor solutions to enhance each individual’s unique smile, ensuring that they can share moments of laughter and connection with the world, just like the family in the dining hall. How long does a filling take? Visit your local dentist for the best treatment.

So, here’s to more moments of shared laughter, genuine connections, and confident smiles, all thanks to places like Malvern Dental.

These shared moments—filled with laughter, food, and connection—remind us that joy often begins with something as simple as a smile. For children especially, feeling confident about their smiles can shape how they interact with the world around them.

That’s why comprehensive pediatric dental care plays such an essential role in a child’s overall well-being. Providers who specialize in early and ongoing dental care know that fostering a positive relationship with oral health from a young age can lay the foundation for a lifetime of confident smiles. Clinics like Little Big Smiles understand this deeply, creating welcoming environments where young patients feel safe, understood, and even excited to visit.

With gentle care, age-appropriate treatments, and a personalized approach for every child—including those with special needs—they help make dental visits something to look forward to. They also offer braces for teens to help improve their smiles. Because when children are free to smile without hesitation, those simple moments of joy—like the one sparked by black olives and family laughter—become even more meaningful.

Also, dental care goes beyond just fixing teeth; it’s about restoring confidence and improving overall well-being. With advancements in modern dentistry, there are now countless ways to help individuals regain their sense of self through a brighter, healthier smile. Whether it’s cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or restorative treatments such as crowns and implants, smiles restored is dedicated to seeing smiles transformed and spirits lifted.

After all, a smile is one of the most powerful tools of communication, capable of fostering deeper connections with others and enhancing personal happiness.

A confident smile can be truly life-changing, influencing not only how others see us but also how we feel about ourselves. Modern cosmetic dentistry offers countless ways to enhance a smile, from subtle touch-ups to full transformations.

Teeth whitening, veneers, and bonding are just a few options that can correct imperfections and create a brighter, more even look. For those looking for expert care, Rice Dentistry specializes in advanced cosmetic solutions, tailoring treatments to each individual’s needs to ensure natural-looking, radiant results.

Beyond aesthetics, cosmetic dentistry plays a key role in restoring function and comfort. Misaligned or damaged teeth can impact speech, chewing, and even self-esteem, but treatments like Invisalign, crowns, and dental implants provide long-term solutions that not only improve appearance but also enhance overall oral health.

With the right approach, a smile can be more than just beautiful—it can be strong, healthy, and built to last, allowing individuals to enjoy every moment with confidence.

A beautiful smile begins with a strong foundation, and that foundation is built on regular, comprehensive dental care. At Family Dental Rego Park, patients of all ages can access a full range of services designed to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life. Preventive care, gentle cleanings, and thorough exams ensure that small issues are caught early, helping to avoid more complex treatments down the line.

Because when dental health is nurtured from the start, the results aren’t just seen in the mirror—they’re felt in every laugh, every conversation, and every shared moment.

· Finding a dishwashing organizational chart posted in the kitchen of the campus ministry house.

There were several other humorous but straight to the point signs that made me smile. Some things never change. My smile was a mile wide until one of the students entered the kitchen.

· The energy that fills the corridors as students, staff and faculty move on to the next thing.

Some are nervously reviewing for a test, others are trying to find something in backpacks, some are keeping their phones and thumbs working, and some are just enjoying one another.

· Waking up on a rainy day to someone dancing the Hokey Pokey.

Yes. You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out …

· The joy of someone finding my keys and returning them before I even realized they were gone.

· A surprise call from one of my brothers.

The one is keeping me up on the Pope’s latest headlines and the other is keeping me connected with my cousins and hometown friends.

· Homemade treats that find their way to me – Challah bread, cookies, apples

· Completing the last project on my To Do list that needed To Be Done yesterday

· Happy people whose happiness is contagious make me smile.

Come O God of snow and rain: Shower down upon the earth;

Come, O God of joy and pain: God of sorrow, God of mirth.

A cheerful look – a smile – brings joy to the heart.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Let’s focus on the Spirit’s gift of joy and smile.