Smile, please!
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
‘Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.’ Thich Nhat Hanh
I would amend that sentence slightly to say, ‘another person’s smile can be the source of your joy.’
A small child’s smile or a baby’s first gummy smile cannot fail to make others smile, too.
A smile is ‘a pleased, kind or amused facial expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed.’ Smiling releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin and it’s contagious, possibly even more so than yawning. (I bet you’re all yawning, now! 😉)
The average woman, if there is such a being, smiles sixty-two times a day but the average man smiles only about eight. I wonder who carried out the research that delivered that tantalising piece of information?
People tend to smile if they have been exposed and are accustomed to it. I remember one three-year-old child who was remarkable because she never smiled. When I met her parents, I understood why, because they didn’t smile either. Normally, when people are introduced, they smile at each other, or, at least, that is my experience.
The little girl learnt to smile!
Smiling defuses tension and indicates a willingness to engage. If the smile on the face of the tiger belies its true nature, at least, for that short time, relaxation is possible.
If smiling is good for us, then surely laughter must be even better. When was the last time you had a good belly laugh and didn’t you feel so much better for it?
The average four-year-old laughs three hundred times a day, but the average forty-year-old only laughs four times a day. Again, who discovered that statistic?
I know people who rarely smile or laugh and seem to have no sense of humour whatsoever. Others giggle inanely at almost everything – perhaps they’re nervous.
Americans tend to smile the most, followed by Canadians. Australians are near the top of the list for the most smiling people. I imagine UK is quite low down, but not as far down as Russia, Poland and Romania.
At least, that was what I understood until I looked at the 2024 indicator of smiley countries. The first one on that index is Finland, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. Australia is tenth and USA is nowhere.
It’s all nonsense, of course, much like the weather forecasts and horoscopes. Keep looking until you find a calculation that suits you! 😊
I get some good belly laughs from the TV shows I watch, but when we were at home as a family there were plenty of belly laughs once the kids discovered jokes and learned to do silly things. As teenagers going grocery shopping with them was a whole new experience.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be around young people:-)
DeleteI loved the stats and I'm pretty sure the one about women smiling more than men must be true 😀😉🙂🙂🙂
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I suspect you're right:)
DeleteI must start counting how many times my Grumpy Old Man smiles.
ReplyDeleteLikewise!
DeleteI was going to mention Russia in a comment. Interestingly more Western characteristics are being noted in Russian behaviour, more politeness and they have managed to master saying 'thank you', in their language of course. I wonder if this extends to smiling more. You've inspired a post, again.
ReplyDeleteI await your post with bated breath :-)
DeleteDuring my specialist clinical exams, I was always reprimanded for smiling. It takes over 10 years to learn to be a plastic face with indifference. It is called professionism
ReplyDeleteI like a smiling medical professional - much more relaxing.
DeleteA child's laughter is the one thing that will always bring a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. If you're ever in need, YouTube could oblige, I'm sure.
DeleteHaving our two little grandchildren here give us something to laugh with often, but as for a good belly laugh, probably doesn't happen as much as it used to.
ReplyDeleteI find that what passes for humour these days often isn't very funny, though I did like 'Ghosts' and 'The Goes Wrong Show.'
DeleteI always say that a smile costs nothing and so I try to remember that each day! 😁
ReplyDeleteAgreed - so long as the smile reaches the eyes :-)
DeleteThe average man's 8 made me smile.
ReplyDeleteOnly seven more to go for today, then.
DeleteI know for a fact that my husband rarely ever smiles. So probably he brings the number count down for men and for US.
ReplyDeleteAww! Maybe he's smiling on the inside.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we Americans don't smile as much as we used to but everyone seems to be smiling in ads. What gets me is ads for home health care agencies and prescription drugs where everyone is smiling.
ReplyDelete. . . and they've all got perfect teeth!
DeleteInteresting numbers. I hate being around someone who laughs at everything...nervous nellies I think. Laughing and smiling are good, and smiling uses more muscles than frowning so we can improve our moods, others moods, and get some exercise all at the same time. That's surely a win win...though sometimes people think you're a bit off if you smile too much. I've tried to perfect the closed mouth smile, but it makes me look like I'm smirking.
ReplyDeletePeople who smile all the time are a bit unnerving. It's much easier to deal with 'normal' people.
DeleteI like a lovely smile. Makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteA smile invites a smile.
DeleteSmiling is good, so too is laughter.
ReplyDeleteI've been smiling a lot today, had a super fun day with family :)
All the best Jan
That's lovely to hear. Family times are so energising.
DeleteI try to smile at people though I don't like doing it. Sometimes I think (especially over here in the US) it makes people think you want to talk to them and have them divulge everything about their life lol. I'd rather stay in my own little world.
ReplyDeleteNever force a smile - it looks artificial. I'm a fly on the wall person, an observer.
DeleteHi Janice - smiling helps so much ... those that do - certainly feel easier with life ... cheers sent with a smile ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteA genuine smile works miracles. Smiles to you, Hilary.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the difference between women and men, but then again I'm sure I do smile more often than my better half, whom I often have to ask whether he didn't find something funny as he remains stony-faced :-) And yes, I was yawning :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, men can be stony-faced sometimes! I wonder why.
DeleteIt doesn't surprise me at all that the USA doesn't make an appearance on the 'smiley list'. We are too busy being mad about one thing or another.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that anyone is smiling at present - life is doom and gloom.
DeleteI was relieved during the masking period at having to organize my face to look friendly! I'm cheerful but my resting face isn't. A lot of women get fed up of men telling them to smile. I think masking was a relief there too.
ReplyDeleteI look quite severe until I smile, then I look simple!
DeleteMy Dearest Stranger,
DeleteIn the vast expanse of this bustling world, our paths have crossed, if only for a fleeting moment. Yet, in that brief encounter, a spark ignited—a gentle warmth that lingers within me.
Your smile, like the sun breaking through storm clouds, has brightened my day in ways words struggle to convey. Your kindness, a beacon of hope in a sea of uncertainties, has touched a chord deep within my soul.
Though our meeting was brief and our futures unknown, I find myself replaying our conversation, savoring the melody of your laughter, and cherishing the genuine connection we shared. It is a beautiful reminder that amidst life's chaos, there exists a beauty in human connection that transcends time and space.
If fate permits, may our paths cross again, weaving our stories together in the tapestry of life. Until then, know that you have left an indelible mark on my heart—a reminder of the simple joys and the profound beauty that love, in its myriad forms, can bring.
With heartfelt admiration and a hope for serendipitous reunions,
OLEKSANDR J