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Meet Traute Klein, biogardener.

Related Articles

It only Takes a Smile
The story which prompted the discussion on this page.

A Hug for Alzheimer's
A hug in my front yard chased away the clouds of confusion.

Smile, and the Whole World
Smiles with You

by Traute Klein, biogardener

This story is the follow-up discussion to the article "It only Takes a Smile," linked in the left column. The messages are published with the permission of the people who wrote them.

Renie Burghardt, October 12, 1999

Very inspirational story. I loved it. Yes, it only takes a smile or a hug or a bit of laughter to touch someone's life, if we only make the effort. And your "Huggie" Bear is adorable. Enjoyed the visit!

Herbert Senft, AKA bindweed, AKA Herb Secataur, a Pacific Northwest Nurseryman, November 30, 1999

Smile and Hugs. It certainly doesn't surprise me to find smiles on your page. I just received the same story a few days ago and posted it on my web site. I really hope more people take the time to look into that old person "and find the work of art within." Our versions of the story are slightly different but that is the way of the Internet.

Christina Coruth, AKA Tina, December 1999
This is a very inspiring story. I have a little anecdote about the power of a smile. While not as inspiring as your story, I think it illustrates the point. Many years ago, I visited my sister. We were walking along a narrow path near the ocean. The path was so narrow that it only permitted two people to walk abreast. Whenever someone would come in the other direction, we would have to walk single file. My sister usually fell in behind me. When we got to the end of the path she said, "What have you been doing when people come in the other direction?"

I said,"Nothing. Why?"

She said,"I have walked this path more times than I can count. People coming in the other direction just walk along, usually don't even make eye contact. Today, everyone smiled."

All I had done was to smile at each person I met along the path. They smiled back and then passed the smile on. :-)

Traute Klein, AKA biogardener, December 2, 1999
A smile is a way of life. There is a Bible verse which I would like to paraphrase as, "A happy heart paints a smile on your face." If we are happy and if we love people, the smile comes without effort. I know a few people who wear constant smiles which do not seem genuine. When you get to know them, the heart does not seem to match the smile. Those smiles we can do without.

Traute Klein, AKA biogardener, December 3, 1999
Further to Christina's story, she emailed me the rest of the story:

Actually, there is a part of that story that I left out. I am not able to "get out" very often due to a medical condition. On those rare occasions that I do, I am so happy to be out and so happy to see people, that I naturally smile. I can't help myself. The joy is so overwhelming. Some people are a bit embarrassed to be with me because I tend to smile and say "hello" to everyone I see. This may seem odd for someone who is as shy as I am. But the joy at seeing people overcomes the shyness. It overcomes everything. I guess I should not have left that out of the post, I may have made my sister sound like a sourpuss and she's not. It's just that my circumstances make me keenly aware of the joy of smiling and saying hello and therefore, I don't take it for granted.

I would never have suspected that Christina is shy. In all my dealings with her, she has radiated love and concern for people. It is that love which comes out in her smile. Even her emails smile.

Tina Coruth, December 4, 1999
Thank you for your very kind words. :-)