The other day I had twenty minutes to just sit and relax. I was tired. I needed a break. I popped on the TV and there was Hello Dolly,with Barbra Streisand. It was in the middle of a big dance number and, being a dancer, I became immediately enthralled with the amazing choreography and the execution of it. I found this smile creeping across my face as my mind started singing along, then humming along, then belting out the tune in full voice for my dog Freedom to share. Before I knew it, I found I was infused with energy. Happy energy! Twenty minutes passed, then thirty, and before you could belt out another Hello Dolly, the movie was over and it was an hour later. And I didn’t feel one ounce of guilt around the “woulda, shoulda, aughtas” that we often guilt trip ourselves with.
The smile is a powerful force. It gives the brain all kinds of messages about how you feel… how you feel about something, and where you want to focus, etc.. There are even studies proving how potent a smile can be in turning your dopamine levels around and increasing your happy place. There are other studies proving the attributes of smiling and laughing to increase your cellular health. It’s simple, it’s cheap, the affects are long lasting and it is fun…….. but it is A CHOICE! You have to choose to smile. And no, you don’t need a reason. You can choose to do it because you love yourself and it’s good for you. Period.
So the next time you feel down, or tired, or just plain ehhh, choose to smile.  Go on, try it right now, and feel the energy shift. It is, pardon the pun, a no-brainer, even though it does miraculous things for the brain. Smile, and the world smiles with you.
Blessings, Dee