‘World Smile Day’ couldn’t have come at a better time, as it has been a week of gloomy weather here on much of the East Coast of America. But everyday we can find grace. I am grateful, that we dodged a major hurricane, and all my family and friends are safe and sound. If lots of rain and dark skies is all I have to deal with– I can deal! But keep in mind there are many people who suffer from SAD disorder and physically feel depression when there is no sun. Achieving good physical and mental health is a different challenge for each of us individually, but there are some universal things we can all do to feel better. You know where I am going with this…it’s ‘World Smile Day’ and before you check out cynically and dismiss this post, let me just tell you this not a ‘fluff’ piece. To the contrary, science and medical research has found that smiling and laughter is seriously and truly beneficial for good physical and mental health. So lighten up and learn more, because before you know it, you’ll be cracking a smile, feeling good, and dare I say…celebrating World Smile Day with me. 🙂

P.S I also believe in the power of music to uplift and just had to share a feel good music video with you. Check it out below. This one you can’t get out of your head once you hear it and that maybe the best thing about it. Enjoy the weekend and Happy World Smile Day!

1. Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
2. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
3. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
4. Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems

If the health benefits are not enough to get you smiling, the research gets better and finds laughter is also good for mental health –both mind and spirit! So let’s get real first, some life events are clearly sad and not occasions for laughter. But most events in life don’t carry an overwhelming sense of either sadness or delight. They essentially fall into the gray zone of ordinary life–giving you the choice to laugh or not. So the next time a certified grump asks you “What are you so happy about?” you can say ‘JUST BECAUSE’ and I feel GOOD about saying it! If you really want to make them feel sorry for asking, you can rattle off the following Mental Benefits of Laughter and send them on their way with their dark cloud in a twist!

1. Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
2. Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
3. Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Smile &Walk on the Lighter Side of Life:

• Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take yourself less seriously is to talk about times when you took yourself too seriously.
  
• Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the humor in a bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life. This will help improve your mood and the mood of those around you.
  
• Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.
  
• Keep things in perspective. Many things in life are beyond your control—particularly the behavior of other people. While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic, unproductive, unhealthy, and even egotistical.
  
• Manage your stress. Stress is a major impediment to humor and laughter.
  
• Pay attention to children and pets and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly,