Smiling. It's a Good Thing.

I recently read an article about how smiling changes your mood. Just the act of your lips curving upward triggers good feelings. I have no idea if there is any scientific data to support this. In fact, I've read the opposite in other posts on the Internet.

But it's Wednesday, and I'm not a human behavior scientist, so bear with me.

Anyway... On Monday, I pushed the grocery cart through the slushy parking lot toward the store as the freezing air bit my face. My mood? Not good. I'd woken up overwhelmed with the kids home (again), a pile of laundry (as usual), a grocery list to write (yep), and a forecast of eight to eleven inches more snow on its way (NO!). So I'm zooming to the tea and coffee aisle, certain I'm missing something, irritated at the price of brown sugar, and I remember the smile article.

Has it come to this? I have to force myself to smile in an attempt to get in a good mood?

Yes. It had come to that. And, yes, I did force myself to smile.

And something glorious happened. I felt light, happy. I giggled!

It's been a long winter. A long, cold, stuck-inside, constant snow, icy roads, white sky, when-will-it-end winter. But I broke out of my rut. With one little smile.

Until next Monday...

What do you do when you're in a funky mood? 

Have a terrific day!

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