I want to take a moment to address the seriously concerning fact that not enough people are smiling nowadays. I know you’re thinking, “she’s a little kid, doesn’t understand that we all have too many problems to worry about smiling” . I acknowledge we all have problems and I acknowledge some of us have problems beyond anything I could imagine. However, it seems people have a permanently begrudged look attached to their faces. Others, I register only blankness staring back at me. It’s become almost unnatural to smile. So I thought I’d undertake a little experiment on the train. I continually smiled to myself, I smiled as I looked out the window, smiled to passengers beside me (not in that creepy way you’re imagining). The amount of confused, irritated, uncomfortable faces around me was quite amusing. Since when did it become weird to smile at the world. Since when did it become weird to try to share some of your happiness ( I’m getting good with this cheesy stuff). We are creatures of pattern and I’m afraid we’re trapped in this cycle of- for lack of a better word – blankness.

You can’t tell me I’m too much of an optimist…

Now, if after reading this you’re still thinking I’m some overly optimistic and naive girl who hasn’t yet experienced problem and is speaking from a lack of such experience then I urge you to read this article on the scientifically proven benefits of smiling.