Teeth are very versatile things aren't they! They serve multiple functions from helping us eat to indicating our mood. Today one of my co-workers was walking up to work and I could tell she was lost in a sad thought, so I said hi and gave her a full teeth smile. She snapped out of it and then we had a great conversation about how our faces give away our inner thoughts so easily.
I have two thoughts on this issue:
First, smiling is such and easy thing to do and it seems to change the environment we are in even if the smile is fake! If people are "happy" and cheerful it tends to guide the mood of the room in that same direction. Have you ever noticed that if someone is telling a joke and you don't get it you will still feel like laughing when everyone else is laughing? How about when people are gripping and complaining, ever noticed how easy it is to join right in? Makes me wonder how many of our bad days would be turned around if everyone else was just positive.
Second, sometimes the pain and the depression make smiling (for real anyway) impossible. When that happens I can put on a fake face but no amount of environmental happiness can change the very real life issues I am struggling with. I have noticed though that no matter how crazy I get if my wife keeps calm and stays positive it helps, no matter how depressed I get if Gracie (the dog...don't want to start any rumors) still wants to cuddle with me it helps, and no matter how sad I am when my kids hug me I can't help but smile.
Fact is that teeth (when part of a smile) aren't magic healers or mystical signposts for the soul, but they are very real indicators that other people care. So show some people you care tomorrow, SMILE!
I have two thoughts on this issue:
First, smiling is such and easy thing to do and it seems to change the environment we are in even if the smile is fake! If people are "happy" and cheerful it tends to guide the mood of the room in that same direction. Have you ever noticed that if someone is telling a joke and you don't get it you will still feel like laughing when everyone else is laughing? How about when people are gripping and complaining, ever noticed how easy it is to join right in? Makes me wonder how many of our bad days would be turned around if everyone else was just positive.
Second, sometimes the pain and the depression make smiling (for real anyway) impossible. When that happens I can put on a fake face but no amount of environmental happiness can change the very real life issues I am struggling with. I have noticed though that no matter how crazy I get if my wife keeps calm and stays positive it helps, no matter how depressed I get if Gracie (the dog...don't want to start any rumors) still wants to cuddle with me it helps, and no matter how sad I am when my kids hug me I can't help but smile.
Fact is that teeth (when part of a smile) aren't magic healers or mystical signposts for the soul, but they are very real indicators that other people care. So show some people you care tomorrow, SMILE!
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