I Just Like to Smile; Smiling is My Favourite

Written by: Melanie Groves; Circle the Child

I had a really good chuckle at this week’s blog topic. Just last week I had seen a meme that had me laugh and at the same time go “whoa” at the full circle of humanity. As far as we have evolved, we’ve come back to the beginning when it comes to communicating with others.

I marvel at technology. Technology allows me each week to see, connect with, and do healing exchanges with people in Europe and in the South Western U.S. all without leaving the comfort of my south-central Ontario (Canada) home. All I know is that I have a stable internet connection and now thousands of kilometres make no difference. We connect despite times zones and kilometres and different weather patterns; no matter what happens, we connect.

What amazes me though is the importance of body language and emotion in intent in conversations.

A simple text no longer conveys it. A couple of months ago it was my brother-in-law’s birthday. I sent him messages conveying my very best sentiments, littered with words and even more emojis. When I got back a simple “Thanks”, I was almost insulted. Wow. No emojis? No exclamation marks? Then the stories start in my head. He must hate me. Maybe he just tolerates me. Did I piss him off somehow? Literally crazy right? After all, he responded. It’s all good. He received my sentiment. The story in my head gets that much more fed when my mother agrees with me… the message of birthday greetings was only lukewarmly received.

My brother-in-law is a sweet guy. He is also a man of few words. So the fact that he took to typing 5 letters actually is a lot. So I think when it comes to emojis, I have to realize that while I use them almost instead of words I have to also understand that not everyone embraces them in the same way I do. I could probably write a book with them, but I also use hand gestures as though they are an integral part of storytelling. I will be on the phone with someone and tell them what hand gestures I am making for fear that if they miss the “air quotations” they might misinterpret the message.

I love emojis, I really do. I find there is so much left to chance with a random written note. There is no tone, no body language. From a neurolinguistics standpoint that basically means that there is room to misinterpret 93% of what I am saying. That’s right, scientific research tells us that our messaging is represented 7% in our words. That leaves a lot to interpretation, especially when texting. I want to make sure you know I am truly happy or grateful or loving or hurting and crying with you and I love that emojis help me convey that.

A single favourite emoji would be like saying the universe would look good in a single colour. I use all of the emojis. I use them to connect with you as I am writing to you. While I want to be there with you — hugging 🤗, crying 😭, laughing 🤣😂, smiling 😁 or celebrating🎉🎂🍾🥂 whatever milestone — if I can’t, I want you to feel whatever I am conveying. I want to say that wherever we are and no matter how far apart we are, my heart ❤and my feelings 🙏 are right there with you, by using whichever emoji(s) best convey it. Emojis are an extension of my feelings connecting us both on this shared landscape. You might hate them or feel that they are frivolous but if you get a bunch from me in a message, know that I am pouring my heart and soul in those so that in that moment you feel my connection and my love for you.❤🌞🙏😚