Many biologists think that the smile originated as a sign of fear. The smile, as a facial expression of the mouth and/or eyes, has been traced back over 30 million years of evolution to a ‘fear grin’ stemming from monkeys and apes to portray to predators that they were harmless. Among humans, the smile is customarily an expression denoting pleasure, happiness, or amusement. It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown.
It has been said that, “A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.”
A portion of the shop will be dedicated to an ever-evolving mix of seasonally appropriate items. Another special area has been set up for children, attended by an adult, to come in and play, draw on the chalkboard, color, or participate in occasional craft activities.
From this iconic inspiration, you may find items in the shop like dreamcatchers; cutomary and seasonal gifts; greeting cards; pickup convenience objects like wrapped candy, gum, snacks, or energy bars’ wrapping paper; kites; yoyos; musical dolls; CTS-grown lavender; and jewelry.
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.
It might be the only sunshine they see all day.
- H Jackson Brown, Jr.-
