A smile that costs nothing, can buy a lot………..

A smile that costs nothing, can buy a lot………..

“A smile is formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses delight, sociability, happiness, joy or amusement”- Wikipedia. It further elaborates the social effects of the same – “A smile seems to have a favorable influence upon others and makes one likable and more approachable”. Simplistic yet very true statements of a smile.

Despite all the messaging advances mankind has made, a round yellow ball with a smiling face is the universally accepted symbol that all is well and you are fine with something or the other. A smile is the subdued version of laughter, but this version has been found to carry more meaning than its complete version. Laughter indicates mirth, whereas a smile can indicate subdued mirth, deep rooted happiness, acceptance, satisfaction, understanding, affection, attraction and appreciation, among a million other things. There can be a mix and match of these in varying measures. A smile is perhaps the most used and least understood of all bodily indicators.

A smile is the most positive sign that a face can convey. When you smile indicating any one of the above reasons it also conveys a message of bonhomie and all the other reasons mentioned not to mention the millions that are not. The title of the blog says that the smile costs nothing, but it is not to be construed as valueless. The value a smile carries is one that no price can buy. The recipient of a smile will, even in the deepest of sorrows receive one moment of peace and happiness, something no amount of money can buy.

It take a lot to make a genuine smile and the most important is your genuineness. You can fake a smile but it will show through to even a newborn baby. If your smile is genuine, it will make the life of the recipient a little better. Even smiling to yourself has its effects as your psychologist will tell you. A smile can end a bitter battle and relight sinking relationships. It can give hope to those in need and calm the pain of those suffering. It can imbibe in other trust and respect for you. All by a facial contortion which requires no hard work, and certainly no cost.

They say that smiles evolved from monkeys who used it to show enemies that they mean no harm. Well done, ape brothers!!! It is way better than clubbing each other to death. Hope more of your human cousins follow the same.