The smiley face created by Harvey Ball in 1963 in the US is now Mankind’s best recognised image of goodwill and good cheer on the planet. It was he, who suggested in 1999, that World Smile day be observed on the first Friday of October, each year. The day is to be dedicated to spreading smiles and acts of kindness. This year, this celebration of pure happiness is on October 7, Friday. Annual awards may be presented to someone who has spread the maximum smiles and happiness. Like Forrest Gump wearing the t-shirt with the smiley and ‘Have Nice Day’ emblem, it will be fun. On World Smile Day last year, the motto was, ‘Do an act of kindness, help one person smile.’
This year, why don’t we start a library in a poor school. Make the kids smile. Start a mobile library. Encourage parents to read for 20 minutes every day and make all the children smile. A smile can make somebody’s day. In the beautiful book of a student’s time with his dying Teacher, (Tuesdays with Morrie) the young man writes, “When he smiles, it’s as if you’d just told him the best joke on earth.” The more we smile, the more we stimulate the happiness chemicals: endorphins. Even by smiling when we are not upbeat, we can release this chemical. This is known as the facial feedback hypothesis. Smiling even when you don’t feel like, is good for you. Laughing aloud releases the chemicals of happiness like serotonin and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. It is an internal workout, releasing bottled up emotions. Finally, a smile makes you beautiful and magnetic. Success follows smiles. So this year, celebrate every day with a smile, followed by a happy laugh. Happiness will follow like a shadow.
The writer is the author of Everyday Happiness Mantras, Innovation Sutra, and Happy Street
