....hobbling back to my car was an understatement!!), my brain was refreshed and ready to attack whatever the new day was going to throw my way. By 10am, my brain was well over-due for a large soy latte, and my body just wanted to crawl back into the warmth and comfort of my silk bed sheets.
As the hours passed, the brain over-load had truly taken hold of me - my eyes were becoming molded into a squinted position (giving me extra wrinkles in my fore-head I am sure!!!), my head had turned into a foggy mush and my emotions were turning from a bouncy and excited three year old to a tired and flattened parent after a kids party.
Walking around the supermarket, packing the next few day's supplies - I was stopped by a friendly, middle aged man and his son. He began to speak Spanish to me 'Hables Espanol?"(Do you speak Spanish?)- to which, amazingly and quietly proud I replied 'Pokito'(meaning Very small amount). I was brought back to my days of travelling through South and Central America! Although the extent of my Spanish these days does not go far beyond 'cerveza (beer), vinho (wine), moi bien (very good) and don esta el bano (where is the toilet?) - I had some well received response, and the man was so excited!! He tried to continue his conversation with me, with very little further 'Espanol' assistance from my 'foggy' brain, but was delighted to hear that i had been to his home country; Peru.
His body language, his willingness to introduce himself and his son, share their stories of their home country and begin a friendship in aisle five of the Ivanhoe Safeway store - made my day!
I walked home with a bouncy swagger in my step, after my friendly encounter and was given proof of the age old saying "A smile costs nothing, but gives much".
I took that smile and shared it with the 18 year old at the register - who went from a pursed lipped teenager to a 'customer service superstar'!
I then brought my smile to the street crossing, where I smiled and had a short conversation with the lady carrying the shopping bags full of groceries and her dog.
Each person who received a smile and a friendly face, left with a
warmth and obvious lifting of their heads.
Here are some great reasons to share in a smile right now....
1. Smiling is contagious
Because of complex brain activity that occurs when you see someone smiling, smiles are contagious. Studies report that just seeing one person smiling activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movement, which leads to a grin.
Even in bad situations, if you smile, others are likely to copy the expression.
2. Smiling lowers stress and anxiety
It’s not easy to keep smiling in stressful situations, but studies report that doing exactly that has health benefits. When recovering from a stressful situation, study participants who were smiling had lower heart rates than those with a neutral facial expression.
The next time you’re feeling stressed, just try smiling to calm yourself down.
3. Smiling releases endorphins
Smiling can help you manage stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins, chemicals that makes you happier. Endorphins are the same chemicals you get from working out or running, resulting in what is known as a runner’s high. Smile more to get that high without running.
4. You’ll be more attractive
Smiles are pretty darn attractive for more reasons than one. A smile suggests that you’re personable, easy going, and empathetic. In fact, a study in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that smiling actually makes you more attractive to those you smile at.
5. Smiling strengthens your immune system
Smiling even makes your immune system stronger by making your body produce white blood cells to help fight illnesses. One study found that hospitalized children who were visited by story-tellers and puppeteers who made them smile and laugh had higher white blood cell counts than those children who weren’t visited.
6. You’ll be more approachable
Turn that frown upside-down if you want to make some friends!
Studies have found that people are more willing to engage with others who are smiling. A smile is an inviting facial expression that tells people you are willing to talk and interact with them.
7. Smiling will make you more comfortable
Our natural tendency is to stick to things that are familiar, but smiling decreases this need. A study found that smiling can make you more comfortable in situations you would otherwise feel awkward in.
8. You’ll seem more trustworthy
If you want to improve your credibility, simply smile more. What could be easier than that?
Trusting doesn’t come easily to many, but smiling at someone may help. Participants in a University of Pittsburgh study rated people who smiled as more trustworthy than people with non-smiling facial expressions.
9. You’ll be a better leader
If you’re in a position of power, or want to be, smiling may be the key to your success. A group of researchers from The University of Montpellier discovered that smiling is a more effective leadership technique than having great management responsibilities. http://inspiyr.com/9-benefits-of-smiling/
Smiling is an easy way to boost your mood, be healthier, feel better, and be viewed as more trustworthy and a better leader. Whenever you’re in a stressful situation or are feeling down, slap a grin on your face so you can take advantage of the many benefits smiling has to offer.
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