Smile.

Ever smiled at a stranger? yea? You changed their day.  If even for a moment you brought joy to their heart by flashing your beasty whites at ‘em, that joy surely had an exponential effect.

Ever seen that car commercial where one person does a small favor for another, and someone sees that happen and is inspired to do something for another?  It’s a pretty simple concept really.  It was drawn out in a movie starring Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey.  You know it’s possible if you’ve ever had a stranger smile at you.

Imagine if we didn’t have to imagine this ‘theory.’  I’m not saying it’s a cure to war or anything outrageous like that, but what if…  Maybe we should try it. Tomorrow, smile at a random person (or 10!). But try not to make it a creepy old man smile… not sure how that would go over…  Hold a door open for some unexpecting patron. Leave an extra dollar tip if you dine out.  Don’t do it for the thank you. Do it because you WANT to–you want to be in the habit of spreading joy, don’t you??

_

Need more reasons to smile and spread joy?

• Buddy the Elf thinks it’s cool. “Smiling’s my FAVORITE!”
• It uses more muscles than frowning, thus burning more calories.
• It makes you look more attractive
  
• It is the essence of exuding your inner awesomeness
• Smiling is FREE!
• Someone you pass may need that smile you’re hiding…so just do it!

Side note: You can’t find EVERYTHING on the internet. I’ve been searching for 20 minutes for a link to the commercial I referenced. No luck. I know I didn’t dream it. It’s out there somewhere!