WorldofSmiles

　　AbouttenyearsagowhenIwasanundergraduateincollege,IwasworkingasaninternatmyUniversity'sMuseumofNaturalHistory.Onedaywhileworkingatthecashregisterinthegiftshop,Isawanelderlycouplecomeinwithalittlegirlinawheelchair.

　　AsIlookedcloseratthisgirl,Isawthatshewaskindofperchedonherchair.Ithenrealizedshehadnoarmsorlegs,justahead,neckandtorso.Shewaswearingalittlewhitedresswithredpolkadots.

　　AsthecouplewheeledheruptomeIwaslookingdownattheregister.Iturnedmyheadtowardthegirlandgaveherawink.AsItookthemoneyfromhergrandparents,Ilookedbackatthegirl,whowasgivingmethecutest,largestsmileIhaveeverseen.

　　AllofasuddenherhandicapwasgoneandallIsawwasthisbeautifulgirl,whosesmilejustmeltedmeandalmostinstantlygavemeacompletelynewsenseofwhatlifeisallabout.Shetookmefromapoor,unhappycollegestudentandbroughtmeintoherworld;aworldofsmiles,loveandwarmth.

　　Thatwastenyearsago.I'masuccessfulbusinesspersonnowandwheneverIgetdownandthinkaboutthetroublesoftheworld,Ithinkaboutthatlittlegirlandtheremarkablelessonaboutlifethatshetaughtme.