Not sure who comes up with these “special” days. I imagine a board of people sitting around a giant table on the top floor of a sky-high building picking random topics out of a hat to celebrate on odd and usual days. Either way. Here we are, and here’s a day to smile about.
October 4th is World Smile Day, a day dedicated to grinning. Since I like smiling, this one is easy. And I don’t know if I even conscientiously think about smiling. It just happens. Sometimes I don’t even realize it. It’s almost creepy. As a child, the neighborhood kids nicknamed me “Smiles.” In fact, if I am not smiling and I happen to be sporting more of serious thinking type of look people get concerned and afraid as if I am upset. And that is not the case. But I am thankful, that people are concerned about my emotional state of being.
So, I think we all agree that smiling should be practiced every single day. Even if it’s not easy. We should try. Of course, we all have our days when we feel like we are getting the short end of the stick and life isn’t fair. It happens. But in reality, that is more of a reason to try and smile anyway.
Smiling is contagious! So just by forcing a happy face through the pain and stress of getting up on the wrong side of the bed is actually infecting others with happiness. Seeing happy people makes us happy. The brain is weird and a copycat. According to science, the neurons in your brain keep you in sync with whoever you are looking at. That is why yawning is so contagious. (And funny! People mid-yawn make the funniest faces!!!)
Smiling is also an instant mood-booster. It works better than chocolate and has way fewer calories. Research has discovered that when you are happy and sporting an eye-squinching smiling face, it helps your body heal and reduces the amount of cortisol in your body. And we all know what cortisol does to the body. (Thanks, to infomercials!) Cortisol contributes to belly fat.
Wearing a big smile on your face is also a step to better health. Studies show that smiling releases endorphins. Endorphins lower blood pressure and make you feel good. It is so easy to trick the brain. You force a smile even when feeling down in the dumps. The smile tells the brain, “Oh, we are happy, now.” Then like magic, you are happy.
The simple act of a cheesy grin could also make you more money. Possibly!! It’s a stretch but according to a study, employers prefer to hire people who appear happy and pleasant. In fact, smiley people are more like to get raises. It’s probably because people who smile a lot brighten up the room and are easy to work with.
So be happy or at least pretend by forcing a smile. And if you are going to try capture of a photo of folks smiling to share on social media, here’s some advice to create a more believable smile. Tell them to say “cheeks” instead of “cheese.”