Yesterday, Sunday, 21st November was World Hello Day.
Do you regularly smile at people? I do, and always have done, since being a child. A lady who lived in the road where I grew up, always reminded me that it was me, as a toddler who said ‘hello’ to her when she, new to the area was passing by. She never forgot that.
My ex, asked me if I knew someone when an older man and I greeted each other with smiles on a beach walk in Craster, Northumberland. We didn’t know each other at all, but obviously, we were both people who like to make contact with other human beings. For me, smiling and saying ‘hello’ go together!
When you say ‘hello’ to someone, they usually return the greeting, which promotes a small amount of success and confidence.
5 Reasons to say ‘hello’
- It can trigger conversations
- Connects us on a more personal level.
- A hello can bring a smile to someone who is alone.
- It can change how you feel – lighten your mood.
- It is acknowledging someone exists.
Good ‘hello’s come with smiles.
Smiling is more than just a facial expression. Smiling releases molecules called neuropeptides from your brain, which help fight off stress. Other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins come into play too. There are actual health benefits to smile and laugh.
Next year I reach my seventies – scary thought, though age is just a number…
Despite that, I still have very few frown lines, or forehead frowns.
My husband is always telling me how much he loves my cheeks! When I smile, I have cheeks, not the sort that lucky people have when they own the most amazing cheek bones, but my smiley cheeks have developed over the years by smiling so much, using my ‘smile’ muscles!
I am lucky, I have never suffered from mental health or serious stress, though I’m not saying I’m perfect. Like most people, I have days I’m not feeling so bouncy and jolly, but I’m sure my positivity is partly because I rarely go through a whole day without laughing at something. I am an optimist.
Over these last two years, I’ve missed seeing people’s faces and being able to hug friends. At least now, I can meet up with friends, and when outside, I can see their faces and smiles, and with close friends, we have hugged!
So, when you’re out and about, please smile at people, because it isn’t just helping to make them feel better, it will also help you. And, you can see if people are smiling when wearing masks – it shows in your eyes. I’ve smiled at lots of young children (who weren’t wearing masks), and they have smiled back in return.
9 facts about smiling:
- Smiling is incredibly contagious.
- Smiling is our first facial expression, and babies are born with the ability to smile.
- Smiling makes you more attractive to others. As a former photographer, I was always encouraging people to smile for their photos, exactly for this reason.
- Smiling is intercultural. A smile can go a long way to connect with others, even when you can’t speak their language.
- It is actually far easier to smile than frown!
- Smiling makes you look younger.
- Smiling uses 5 – 53 muscles!
- Smiling while you are on the phone makes you sound friendly.
- Smiling is free!
Help to raise both your mood and that of others.