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Why so serious? All it takes is a Smile

Day of DubaiAugust 31, 2023 · Updated 2 months, 3 weeks ago

We meet a lot of people on a single day. From your very neighbourhood to the public transport you take or while walking on the road to your place of work. Consider the number of strange faces that we see in a day. It is sure to outnumber that of the known faces. Apart from the family, friends, colleagues and a few acquaintances, a large number of people we see on a single day can fall in the list of strangers.

Now consider the number of people who care to pass on a smile when you glance at them. Wonder where this is going to? Wait till you figure it out in the next few lines. Coming back to the number of smiles, not even 50 percent of the whole lot care to smile. Now consider the number of people who return the smile that you give them and lastly the ones who dont smile back even when you do. Well, we are not heading into a math problem solving the number x of smiles.

Observations and experiences throw light on the fact that most people are too hesitant to take the smile initiative between two strangers. A few who are little generous at the heart show the minimum courtesy of smiling back. And a large number of the difficult ones are bereft of the curve of a smile, the reason to which is still a mystery.

This might sound too trivial, too petty a thing to discuss in the 21st century when emojis have taken over and eroded our natural emotions. Emojis flood our social media and messaging apps in contrary to the cold faces we confront each other with, in the real world. But the intriguing question is why are so many people so stingy when it comes to stretching the face muscles to bring out a curve that only makes you look more beautiful, trust me it works more than all the racist fairness creams.

If you want real science backing to trust the powers of a smile, here you go, the mere act of smiling reduces blood pressure, lowers stress hormones, and boosts your mood; a British study even found that one smile generates the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.*

A smile can do a lot, be it a stranger or an old acquaintance, all it takes is a few seconds to smile, but it creates a deep warmth in the hearts of the people exchanging it. Be it the one sitting next to you on the metro, the receptionist, be it anyone who passes by, let go of the numbness on your faces, theres no make-up as good as a heartwarming smile that can make you look much better. After all, a smile is atleast genuine.

Nonetheless, it all starts with you. If you are reluctant to smile even at your own reflection in the mirror, it is gravely serious, and there is the need for a lot of homework from your side. Start with it today!