Nisma Rafiq

Saudi Gazette

 

Smile is a curve that sets everything straight.  Do you know how? Smiling makes things easier for us. Let’s imagine a scenario: You are in a new school and you have no friends. You are sitting alone, afraid of everyone. No one is talking to you. If you have a scared or angry face, chances are everyone would think of you as a rude person, whereas if you smile you will look more approachable and less intimidating.



And did you know that it takes only 17 muscles to smile but 47 muscles frown?!



Why you should smile?



Smile attracts – Studies show that people are attracted toward a smiling person and want to know them more. Hence, you can make more friends or make people like you, only if you smile.



Sets your mood - Whenever you feel upset or sad about something put on a smile. Smiling tricks the body into helping you change mood.



Long life - Being happy and smiling adds years to your life. It helps your immune system to work well. You will get less colds and flu which means active participation in school activities.



Contagious – When someone is smiling in the room, they change the mood of others by creating a cheerful environment.  A smiling and joyful person brings happiness to others as well.



Stress reliever - When you are tired of all that homework, or upset about something else and cannot think straight, then just smile. It will help your body and mind relax, and you will be able to take proper action.



When your parent smile



Smile is natural connection between people and the magic of smile can do wonders.  Parent’s smile plays an important role in the life of a child. It strengthens the relation and provides a sense of assurance and comfort to the child. The smile on a parents’ face is the love for their children. For children, it helps them behave in proper way and avoid mistakes so as not to anger their parent and sadden them.



When your parents are smiling at you, they are telling you:



They

– love you

- enjoy being with you

- are proud of you

- are happy with you

- Love seeing you as your presence is comforting to them

- notice everything you do

– are pleased with you

- have expectations from you ( to behave good, study well etc.)



When your teacher smiles



A teacher’s smile can reassure a child and build his confidence. Kulsoom Iqbal, a teacher, said: “One day I entered the class and everyone greeted me except for three students. They just looked at me with fear. I smiled at them and to my satisfaction I noticed that my smile had generated a smile on their lips too.  I understood what I had to so. I understood that smile is natural connection between people. By the end of the year, those three boys were in the good books of all the teachers.”



When your teacher is smiling, they are telling you:



They

- care about you

-respect you

- expect good results from you

-  understand you

-want you to feel comfortable in your school

- are here to help you whenever you need

- love their job as a teacher.



Little things make a difference, even when you don’t bother to do so. So keep smiling!