The Wonderful Word for this Wednesday was suggested by my Dad. Super simple word: Smile. Right?
Well, yeah, but this wonderful little word has a lot to say!
Here’s the definition of smile according to Dictionary.com:
- To assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement (but sometimes derision or scorn) characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.
- To regard with favor (ex: Luck smiled down on us that night)
- To have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect.
Here are some of the synonyms:
beam, grin, laugh, smirk, simper (?), be gracious, express tenderness,
There is one antonym:
frown
What comes to mind immediately when you hear the word, smile?
The first thing that popped in my head when my Dad suggested this word is how a smile can effect those around you.
I can correct my kids gently with a smile that shows they are still loved and that I understand their behavior, but can they please stop _____. OR I can look stern or totally disgusted and correct them. This option brings shame and even anger from my kiddos. Of course I can’t always correct them with a smile, but when it’s appropriate, I should try. A smile will diffuse, where a look of disgust or anger exacerbates the situation.
My oldest has always been VERY attune to our facial expressions. The slightest look of annoyance or frustration can make him very anxious. A look or tone of anger puts him in a fight or flight mode quickly and then nothing gets through. I’ve had to work hard at not having a ‘resting you know what face’ when what he needs is understanding and gentle correction. I have made situations MUCH worse with my responses and diffused many a situation that would have ended in a huge meltdown with just a softened face and a smile.
Smiling also has big impacts on strangers when you are out and about. Think about how just smiling at someone in the grocery store (or anywhere!) can make their day. Noticing someone and just giving a big smile their way is such a small thing for us to do, but makes a big impact in someone else’s day. Smiling is a universal language. AND, we can even show we are smiling with our eyes if we are wearing masks, so no excuses!
Then there is the actual physical response in our bodies and others when we smile.
“The fact is, as Dr. Isha Gupta a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine explains, a smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones including dopamine and serotonin. “Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression,” says Dr. Gupta. “Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression.”
The above quote was taken from an excellent article NBC. Here’s the link:
If you need even more reason to smile, here is a great article on the top 10 reasons to smile:
https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-to-smile-every-day-2223755
Take a look at these beautiful smiles! How do you feel?
I find it’s really hard not to smile back at these people! Smiling is definitely contagious.
So if you’re feeling blue, open up this email and look at these smiles and smile right back at them. It’s a start to feeling better.
Alright friends, GO FORTH! SMILE and spread some joy 🙂
Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso, Signing off
Cover Image: I had so much fun with this ‘Smile’ image at the top of this email: Here’s my process: First I browsed different fonts and found the type of ‘S’ I wanted. This one is a variation of the font, ‘Diamond Dreams’. Then I sketched the word ‘Smile’ on watercolor paper in faux calligraphy with a Prismacolor Col-erase 20028 Copy not NP Blue pencil (a blue colored pencil that is not supposed to show up in photos). Next, I painted it in with Windsor and Newton watercolors. Lastly, the flowers and frame are made with a gold Sakura Pen-touch paint pen and a handmade gold watercolor from Ashley @ Cliffs of Watertown purchased from Etsy – the color is ‘Fools Gold’. The design is my own original creation.
Smiling Peeps Photo Credits: Left to right: Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash; Photo by Divine Effiong on Unsplash ; Photo by Jessica Felicio on Unsplash ; Photo by Rupinder Singh on Unsplash ; Photo by Gabriel Silvério on Unsplash ; Photo by Jamie Brown on Unsplash