Just Smile

Spot Lite Entertainment

"Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family." - Mother Teresa

The idea of trying to start your day with a smile seems so simple, yet so many start with a disgruntled expression. The day will seemingly never get better because you have already set the dour mood.

The mood extends to your interactions with others which will create greater distance between you and others. But a smile creates connection. It is said, "a smile is the shortest distance between two people."

Just what is a smile though? In physiology, a smile is a facial expression formed by flexing those muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth. The smile can also be found around the eyes. It is also that well-known 'Smiley' image which is universally recognized.

The 'Smiley' face was created by a commercial artist named Harvey Ball, from Worcester, Massachusetts (USA) in 1963.



Harvey Ball over the years developed a concern that the original meaning or intent of his symbol was being lost. He is quoted as saying about the 'Smiley' symbol is it, “…just reflects what is inside every one of us – a smile is what we want to see when we look at another human being.”

He goes on to say, “Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes the world seems big and filled with problems that are too hard to understand much less solve. We start to believe that we are too small to make a difference. But that’s not true. The truth is that every one of us has the ability to make a difference every day.” It was out of those concerns came his idea for World Smile Day®.

The benefits of a smile can help improve your life as well. In an article titled Top 10 Reasons To Smile by Mark Stibich, Ph.D., the benefits seen are:

1. Smiling makes us attractive.
We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood
Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is Contagious
When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress
Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger
The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful
Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive
Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

So try to start your day with a smile and feel how it changes your day. Then pass it along to others throughout your day.

As Leo Buscaglia once said, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Turn your life around, turn someone else's life around - all with a smile. And stay inspired my friends!

One Ringy-Dingy, Two Ringy-Dingy

"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?"
- Al Boliska

Here is something to think about.

On March 12, 1889, Almon B. Strowger entered the U.S. Patent Office in order to file a patent for his invention called the Automatic Telephone System. The first place this device was installed was in Laporte, Indiana, in 1892. It worked, but not as good as it should have. Alexander Bell’s invention was deemed much more reliable and became the standard for all early phones.

Good thing it did or we would have been complaining about Ma Strowger and not Ma Bell.

Just something to think about.

Stay inspired my friends!

You Can't Always

Flicker - Thor

“You can’t always get what you want. And if you try sometime you find, you get what you need." - Rolling Stones

There were two professional football games played recently. As an American sport, the National Football League is big business and all of the players on these four teams are paid very well. It is also a very rough sport with high chances of injury that can end a career in the blink of an eye. But those that play the game know the risks but love the game enough to play on.

There were also millions of fans that watched these two games. While many were in the stadiums, many more were watching on television sets around the world. There were Twitter tweets, Facebook updates and Instagram pictures traversing the virtual universe in massive numbers. Opinions ran high on player performance, coaching decisions and officiating efficiency of the referees.

Yet the two games played on.

There was a tale of two games played with both tone and tenor differences. The AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos was aged experience and mutual respect. The NFC Championship between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks was youthful talent and dislike for each other. A stark contrast that had the same results, a winning team and a team that doesn't win.

There was a lot of talk about what the significance was of each team's win or loss. Commentary would try to understand the impact of a loss and how that particular team would move on from loss. That same commentary would also try to make predictions for each winning team. the money, the grand party, the weather and all of the hoopla surrounding the championship game; the Super Bowl.

Yet our lives moved on.

We have so much going on in our lives. There is so much that could beat us down and possibly make us give up, but we continue to battle. We continue to never give up, never give in. When we face a loss, we walk away with dignity knowing we did our best. We also walk away with more knowledge, more determination and more motivation to succeed next time. When we win, we know it isn't final. We honor those that made us better. We also look forward to the next success for we learn in in winning.

The game will continue to be played. Our lives will continue to be lived. Success will slip from our hands yet sometimes you will find that you get what you need. That sounds like a line from a pretty good song.

Stay inspired my friends.

Dance, Love and Sing

“Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” - Emory Austin

There are days we simply do not wish to sing, struggling to engage in the dance of life or to love all that we have.

Those days will come and those days go.

How you choose to live those days is yours to make. You can take choose to be in a state of despair letting the day pass like a floating soap bubble being popped. This will ultimately leave you lost and with nothing to show for the time spent. It will be a day lost in the short span of our lives. It will become a lost opportunity to experience the greatness that life has to offer.

The other choice is to grab hold of each and every day.

It is an opportunity to dance through our problems with a joyous step. It provides us with a chance to love all that happens to and around our lives. It urges us to sing of the joys that do exist in our life.

Live your life full of wonder and expectation for what this day, the next, and everyone one beyond will bring. Stay inspired my friends!