Looking again at this photograph taken in Tokyo about two months ago, I was reminded how wonderful a smile truly is. Then a line from the French philosopher Alain's writings on happiness came to mind: “We do not smile because we are happy; we are happy because we smile.” Was that how it went? I wanted to see the happy faces of people in downtown Seattle.
２ヶ月程前東京で撮ったこの写真を久しぶりに見て、改めてスマイルって本当にいいなと思った。そしてふと思い出したのがフランスの哲学者アランの幸福論の中の一節、「幸せだから笑顔になるのではなく、笑顔だから幸せなのだ」、そんな言葉だったか。そしてシアトルダウンタウンの人々の幸せそうな顔を見たくなった。
As autumn ends, the Thanksgiving holiday arrives. Friends and loved ones are invited to share a dinner of roast turkey and seasonal foods and celebrate the harvest. Soon afterward comes the busy season of Christmas decorations and gift shopping. During this time of year, every day carries a vague excitement, and a smile naturally rises even as I walk.
秋が終わる頃にはThanksgivingの休日（感謝祭）があり、親しい人を招いて七面鳥の丸焼きや季節の食材で夕食を一緒に楽しみ、収穫を祝う。その後間もなくクリスマスの飾り付けやプレゼントの買い物で忙しくなる時期だ。このシーズンは毎日なんとなくワクワクした気分になって、歩いていても自然に笑みが浮かんでいる。
From behind, I called hello to these women waiting at the light, pointed to my camera, and asked with my eyes whether I might take their picture. They answered with smiling signs of approval. Thank you, thank you, and I firmly caught the bright vitality that came flying straight toward me.
信号待ちの彼女たちに後ろからハロー、カメラを指差し撮っていいかと目で語りかけたら笑顔でＯＫのシグナルを返してくれた。サンキューサンキュー、そしてびしっと飛んできた溌剌とした活気をしっかりと受け止めた。
Without saying anything in particular, their faces soften as they walk; their hearts must fit together beautifully. Together they feel secure and glad. How lovely to pass a whole day in such a state of mind.
何を語るでもなく、歩きながら顔がゆるむのは互いの心がうまく絡み合っているのだろう。二人一緒にいれば安心感があって、うれしくて、こんな気持ちで一日が過ぎるのはいいなあ。
Even between strangers, is exchanging a smile when our eyes meet not the finest way for companions in life to express goodwill? A warm afterglow remains in both hearts. Yes, a smile not only makes us happy; it can make another person happy too.
知らない同士でも、目と目が合えば微笑みを交わすのは生きていく仲間同士の、親しみを表す最適の手段ではないだろうか。そしてとても温かな余韻が互いの胸に残る。 そうだ、微笑むことは自分が幸せになるばかりでなく他人をも幸せにできるのだ。
This shop's coffee and pastries are delicious. She is quiet, but her familiar smile brightens the room by at least a thousand watts and, more than anything, makes everything taste many times better. If I can see that smile, I will come tomorrow and the day after, order cup after cup, become addicted to coffee, and grow stout on pastries without regret. And if she were to lean close and whisper in my ear, “How have you been...?” I could collapse on the spot and leave in an ambulance perfectly content.
コーヒーも菓子パンもとても美味しい店。無口だけど彼女のいつものスマイルで店内がプラス1000ワットは明るいし何と言ったって味が何倍も良くなっているんだ。この笑顔が見れれば明日も明後日も来てさ、お代わりを何杯もしてさ、コーヒー中毒になってもさ、菓子パンでメタボになってもさ、本望さ。そして「お元気でしたか．．．」なんて囁くように耳元で声をかけられちゃったらさ、その場に倒れて救急車でもいいんさ。
They say laughter is the best medicine, ah, no, that saying was about wine. In any event, laughter apparently has major physiological health benefits. I have heard that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, increases feelings of peace and security, strengthens immunity, and helps with cardiovascular disease. Even a forced smile is said to invigorate the body. As he put it: even without a home or a job, if you smile like this, you begin to feel that somehow things will work out.
笑いは百薬の長って言うでしょ、あ、あれは酒か。とにかく笑うのは生理的に健康効果も大らしい。副交感神経が立ち、安らぎや安心感が増し、免疫力アップや循環器疾患にも効果があると聞いたことがある。いや作り笑いでも体が活性化するらしい。彼曰く、家がなくったって、仕事がなくったって、こうしてニコッとしてれば何とかなるような気がしてくると。
When an owner is smiling and cheerful, the dog is happy too. The wind is a little cold, but today the dog once again accompanies its beloved master on a shopping trip. Even passing the people coming and going is fun. We humans are the same: whether it belongs to family, friends, or a stranger, seeing a smile somehow makes us cheerful as well.
飼い主がニコニコとご機嫌が良ければ犬もうれしいもの、すこし風が冷たいけど大好きなご主人と一緒に今日も買い物のお付き合い。行き交う人々とすれ違うのも楽しいなあ。我々人間も同じで、家族や友人や知らない人でも笑顔を見ると、こちらもなんだか楽しくなってしまう。
“My family has lived in this town for generations. I may live in a tiny apartment, but this whole neighborhood is like my garden. I know every shop and everyone here, so I can enjoy chatting all day.” So said a smiling woman who picked up litter and tended “her garden.”
この街に代々住んで、と言っても小さなアパート暮らしだけど、ここら辺りは私の庭みたいなものよ、どの店も誰でも知り合いだから一日中おしゃべりが楽しいのさ、と笑顔でゴミ拾いをして「自分の庭」掃除をしているおばさんがいた。
The year-end holiday season has begun. People delight in Thanksgiving with cries of “Happy, happy,” followed by Christmas and New Year's, and their faces soften throughout this time. Seeing someone walk by with a large bag of Christmas gifts and a broad smile naturally relaxes my own face. Indeed, smiling has made me feel happy.
年末のホリデーシーズンが始まった。「ハッピーハッピー」と感謝祭を楽しみ、クリスマスそして正月と続くこの時期は人々の顔もほころんでいる。クリスマスプレゼントの大きな買い物袋を提げ、にこにこ顔で歩いているのを見ると、こちらの顔も自然にゆるむ。なるほど笑顔で幸せ気分になってきた。