Smile at a stranger

[alspals69]

OK, i know i bang on about stuff on happiness i have seen on tv but...

Apparently smiling at stragers is good for us.

It makes us feel good (because they automatically smile back)

It makes them feel good.

But does it work?

Go on you lot... go out there and smile.... then report back. Does it make youfeel better?

[imaginewithme]

I have done it and have had it done.......it does make you feel good.

[alspals69]

me too

i really like the idea of deliberately setting out to do it as a dliberate attempt to make us and the peope around us feel better

I'm gonna do it tomorrow and will report back!

[TinTennessee]

I almost always smile and say "hi" to anyone I see. If someone I encounter seems particularly hateful, I try to say something complimentary to them, it tends to take the wind right outta their sails....then again, if I'm having a bitchy day, no one gets a smile lol

[osuche]

I do it all the time. Some smile back. Others look at you like you're a nut.

But I am still smiling. :)

[Soundman]

I try to smile and speak briefly to people I meet. It seems to make both of us feel better, especially if they smile back. For some people, my smile may be the only happiness they experience all day, so I do the best I can.

I know that when I'm down, if someone smiles at me (especially if she' pretty ;) ) then I seem to start feeling better.

[Oldfart]

Most of the young women here in Upper Oz seem to have been tought that if you avoid eye contact,

there's less chance of a homicidal maniac stalking you home and stealing your tea-cosy collection.

I miss out on a lot of tea-cosies that way.

[fzzy]

LOL at OF .... I've been smiling and saying hi to people almost all my life ... but I remember the first time someone "called" me on it ... It was my first year in college ... many of my growing up years (prior to that) were in smaller communities, but college was in a major city .... at the time I didn't have a car, but just about 10 blocks from my dorm room my great aunt had an apartment, she wasn't in great health and all 3 of her kids lived out of state, so I tried to get down to visit her at least a couple of times each month ... one of those days I was walking down I passed an elderly woman who was out in her front yard working on her flower bed ... I simply smiled and said hello as I was walking by ... didn't think a thing about it, but she stopped me and told me how wonderful I was for thinking to smile and speak to an "old lady" .... ever since then I've thought about how much of a difference such a simple act can make ... I'm grateful that she taught me that lesson!

[Oldfart]

It's a simple act of acknowledgement.

[Lilith]

I live in the south, it's just the way things are done. It's polite to greet with a smile, word or gesture the people who cross your path.

[boilergirl1]

absolutely. tis the next best thing to a real hug!!

[Salacious]

I'm a smiler.

My mom always told me if I see someone without a smile to give them mine. Words to live by.

Truth is it does work. :)

[imaginewithme]

I'm gonna do it tomorrow and will report back!

I'm waiting on your report :p

[alspals69]

I'm waiting on your report :p

my court case comes up next week

i decided to smile at a guy... just for a change... and we ended up talking about his rather splendid Toyota sports car.

I did feel good about this.... i don't normally talk much to guys

some great tales here folks... and oldfart definately made melaugh