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When I look in the mirror, I’m constantly aware that the smile gleaming back at me is in fact someone else’s. It belongs to the millions I’ve strived to touch and to those who have truly touched me. The dimples that grace my cheeks belong to my grandmothers, who so lovingly taught me the arts of compassion. The effortless grin belongs to my late friend, Tommy, who loved every single thing unconditionally- regardless of its ability to return the favor. And my smile’s inability to contain itself is indubitably the work of my sister, Tiffany, who never once allowed anything- let alone her disability- to get in the way of her happiness.
Growing up in a large Italian family, I have quickly and instinctively learned the arts of sacrifice and compassion. My family has taught me since infancy to share my abundant blessings with those less fortunate. Ever since I can remember, my grandmothers have set precedents of selfless service. Less fortunate guests at our dinner table and the sponsoring of orphaned children were common occurrences in my family, and I seldom thought twice about opening a door or carrying groceries for a stranger. As I matured, these random acts of kindness grew into something more, and I developed a driven desire to help others in need. At the ripe old age of 14, I decided to take matters of compassion into my own hands. In just months I had developed a grass-roots non-for-profit organization that I dubbed “Hippies for Hope”. Originally with a goal in mind of supplying kids in need with smiles and homemade tie-dyed shirts, I quickly registered my organization at local hospitals and made routine donations of my tie dyed creations. The joy and happiness on the faces of these needy children and their grateful families were enough to convince me to continue and expand. Three years later, I’ve added new components of Hippies for Hope, designed to spread positive energy and release creativity in the hearts of people in group homes and respite centers. All the while with these smiles in mind, I poured ounces of dye and gallons of positive energy into the lives of many people with physical and intellectual disabilities. This certainly wasn’t the end. After being contacted by a representative from Nurturing Minds, an organization jump-starting girls schools in Africa, I was asked to use my shirts to fund-raise for the education of underprivileged girls in Tanzania. Soon enough, the beautifully grateful smiles of African girls from halfway across the planet had convinced me to travel there and spread my own smiles. As I begin fund raising for my upcoming 2010 service trip to the Tanzanian SEGA School, I reflect on the original compassion in the faces of my grandmothers.
One brilliant 17-year-old smile, incredibly contagious and packed with reality, lends me its effortless grin. I met Tommy through Best Buddies International, a peer-mentoring program for students with intellectual disabilities. Upon meeting me, Tommy pulled my hand to his heart as if to tell me that he was in fact a real person, and a loving soul. I knew this, of course, but for so many who didn’t already this handshake was an adorably alarming and incredibly powerful mechanism. Tom’s handshake was that of endearing respect, while he demanded equality with eye contact. In a room full of obvious diversity, he shook each hand like it was an honor and privilege. This element of respect was coupled with Tom’s signature statement: “I okay,” while he symbolically commanded us to accept his differences and assured us that he, too, was comfortable with them. I’m lucky to have met Tommy when I did, because shortly after he shook my hand and stole my heart, he passed away with complications of his Down syndrome.
Tom’s self-acceptance reminded me of my older sister Tiffany. From day one of living with severe Cerebral Palsy, Tiff taught me both perseverance and self-confidence by never questioning her ability to succeed. Constantly defying expectations of doctors, parents, and peers, my sister has accomplished more in 25 years than most will do in a lifetime. She has traveled the world, graduated both high school and college, become an amazing athlete, and encouraged thousands of other young people living with life altering disabilities. Both an advocate and a dreamer, Tiffany has never let anyone put her down, rather: she has lifted others up. We’ve always joked about my sister’s muscle spasms and her inability to control facial expressions. Effortlessly, Tiff ignites other smiles by simply being unable to contain her own. Tiff’s brave soul has led her to speak in dozens of churches, groups, and organizations- telling thousands of people how just one smile can go a long way.
My smile, compiled of all of these, may be the one that makes the difference. My smile may be the saving grace for another, or the inspiration for thousands. I fully intend to become a part of someone else’s smile, and further spread this sensation globally. I’m sure that the ignition of smiles and positive energies internationally can only mean one thing. As Mother Teresa said: “Peace begins with a smile.”
