A smile is such a simple neuro-muscular event that most of the time we do it without even thinking about it. It tells people so much about our emotional state and even if we are not feeling over the moon ecstatic, just stretching the corners of our mouths and elevating our cheeks can bring with it mood elevation. It makes us seem more approachable and is quite contagious. People feel a sense of bonding when in the company of other smilers. I remember an episode from one of my favorite shows Ally McBeal in which one of the quirky (weren’t they all?) lawyers John Cage played by Peter MacNicol uses ‘smile therapy’ to assist himself and a co-worker to cheer up. He made smiley faces in the mirror and even though it seemed goofy, it worked. Check it out yourself.

Another iconic smile moment was in the film Forrest Gump in which the main character was running and fell in a mud puddle, wiped his face on a t-shirt and out popped the familiar image.

Today is World Smile Day, so let yours shine~

From the World Smile Day Facebook Page
“Harvey Ball, the recognized creator of Smiley in 1963, launched World Smile Day® in 1999. It has been celebrated around the world on the first Friday of October since 1999. Join us that day and “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile!”
Mission

Promoting the concept of devoting one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world.

As is well known by now throughout the world, Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963. That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.
As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace.  Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day®. He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world.  The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion.  Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we.  He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day®. Ever since that first World Smile Day® held in 1999, it has continued every year in Smiley’s hometown of Worcester, MA and around the world.
After Harvey died in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was created to honor his name and memory.  The Foundation continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day® each year.
This page and the website (www.worldsmileday.com) were created to provide information about  World Smile Day®, Harvey Ball and Smiley.
Browse the websites archives to learn more about past World Smile Day® events, Smiley and his creator – Harvey Ball.
And be sure to join the celebration this year on Friday, October 5th, and “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile”!
I am taking my smile on the road to share today as I go into Philadelphia and then a holistic expo. I also plan on collecting smiles (and hugs while I’m at it) and scattering them back out. Imagine the ripple effect if we each shared a smile with the next person we pass. How will you celebrate World Smile Day?
http://youtu.be/ciHyZqy0R98 Smiles by Judy Garland
http://youtu.be/351l62Yx0oI When You’re Smiling by Frank Sinatra
http://youtu.be/KWnGe-2u9tM Your Smiling Face by James Taylor
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