From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
learning how to smile
NEEDS WORK
Well, I've discovered the secret! A surefire way to make someone smile whether they want to or not!
I am lucky enough to have a couple of days at my favorite five star type 'hotel come conference venue come resort come health spa and generally great place to be' in Coolum and it started me thinking about smiling and it's impact on people. Everyone working in this place is amazing! They are so pleasant - no, they are more than pleasant - they are really , really friendly and genuinely interested in the guests and they smile and laugh as they work.
Doesn't matter what staff member walks past you, they smile and say hello. Sort of makes a person feel warm and fuzzy - especially if that person (like me)is traveling alone and doesn't know too many people. That's one of the many reasons this place is so good for 'unattached' people wanting a holiday or a break. Lots to do, great weather, and hotel employees that become your good friends by the time you have been here a couple of days.
How many people smile at you when they walk past? Especially if you don't know them! And what happens if you smile at them? People look away or look embarassed or snarl or look behind them to see who you are smiling at! We are so used to avoiding eye contact so we can avoid haveing ot intereact with strangers.
Toddlers and children are at their most charming when they beam a gorgeous inocent smile at you - a total stranger! And we can't help but smile back - unless you're an old grump or scrooge or deadly dull!
So, smiling is infectious. Try it today - smile at everyone and notice the reactions you stimulate. It may be difficult for you initially but persevere because it's good for your wellness. Not to mention their wellness. If the response you receive is a sneer or not a smile , who cares? Keep smiling in that charming way toddlers and children smile - innocently - just to say hello, to acknowledge your existance. And pretty soon I bet the other old grump will soften.
Even if they don't , smiling releases endorphins, which are the body's natural 'happy drugs'. Our brains register the contraction of the muscles around our mouths and the 'crow's feet' laughter lines around our eyes and sends out a message to all stations on our bodies - 'they're smiling, SEND ENDORPHINS!' So we can chemically change the chemistry of our blood by smiling more.
And endorphins are thousands of time more effective at pain relief than morphine. It's produced in our own bodies so there are no side effects! It's cheap and the effect lasts for farhours. ANything we can do to release edorphins needs to be encouraged. Who ever prescribed laughter or smiling to reduce the pain of arthritis? Well, actually, Norman Cousins did! He wrote a book called 'The Anatomy of an Illness" in which he describes the way he overcame a crippling connective tissue disease - that's flash medical jargon for bad , arthritic disorder! He found little relief in hospital so he booked himself into a lovely hotel and watched comedy videos and laughed and laughed and laughed his way to health! What a great approach! And smiling and laughter are so cheap. We don't need five star hotels (they are just nice extras and additions!); we don't need comedy videos or shows (they just help); all we need to do is smile and give smiles away - if you can't get anyone to smile at you , look in the mirror. You'll either smile back or realize why people are not returning your happy face!
So, back to my opening statement. There are some people who just don't (read won't) smile no matter what you do. And my great friend Alex - who is director of rooms at this resort, has a fabulous smile and an amazing ability to make people feel fantastic , decided he would surprise me with a special treat! Sure was a surprise! He arrived with his Harley Davidson motor bike - ready to take me for a ride.
Now, before you think how excited and lucky I must have felt, remember I am a physiotherapist - who cut her teeth (so to speak) on motor bike riders in hospital orthopaedic wards. So I am terrified of bikes! And not about to smile too much! But, being someone who practices whast she preaches, i figured this will be a great experience - enjoy it! And Alex is a really safe driver who has taken 'how to drive so safely that even frightened physios will feel OK' courses. Guess what! It was fantastic and even better - sitting on the back of a big strong Harley, behind big , strong Alex, the wind rushes by at about 4 million miles per hour, and forces you to smile cos the wind catches your cheeks and plls them back thereby forcing your mouth to widen and open so you leer and grin like a mad thing!
So, there it is. My secret way of making unsmiling people smile. Sit them on the back of a Harley, with a safe driver, make them wear a small helmet and drive very fast - have the camera ready to catch the huge grin that appears! And they'll have such a great time that by the end of the trip they will have a genuine grin and be full of endorphins! Thanks Alex! And thanks to the staff at my all time favorite health spa resort!days at my favorite five star And a major part of this fabulous atmosphere is created by the smiles on these people's faces. - spontaneously, for no reason.
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It was fantastic and what's more, u for yet another 'smiling' injectionp
