Are Smiles Really Contagious?

Are smiles contagious?
I have observed this many times,the fact that if you smile at someone,even a stranger that they will smile back.In life we are faced with many scenarios,spousal life,our parents,our children,being a child,work places,our friends,acceptance in society, acceptance in life,being successful,being ordinary and being different.It is how we choose to look at this issues and face them that makes us who we are.If you are free inside your mind to enjoy in life and to just let go and not have those everyday worries then the smiling part comes easy.But,let's say you are having a bad day,things just are not going your way,would a smile from a passerby make a difference?

I have had the pleasure of having great family,friends and simple acquaintances in my life and although some people are not as lucky as I am,I could only hope that they find such.I see people everyday that seem to have the weight of the world resting upon their shoulders and I think to myself "is their life really all that bad?" and "just what would make a difference to them?" A smile perhaps?A reason to see that someone actually cares enough to share that with them.I think that in society these days we are lacking that personal feeling of being able to trust,to express how we feel,to be honest with each other and to actually care.Where has all of this gone to?

Maybe I think that hanging onto the pain of minimal issues is just not worth it and that we should live each day like it was the last day.Am I alone in this feeling?I would tend to say,no but ,as I watch others and hear their cries and their worries it makes it awfully hard to think otherwise.I have loved and lost in life and made mistakes and learned and found distrust and betrayal but,despite all of this it has made me stronger person, more in tune with what is going on around me and more capable of being able to see the light beyond the storm and thankfully it is still there.

So,is a voice of reason easy to achieve?No,it isn't,it's a lot of hard work and a lot of patience but believe me it pays off in the long run.Maybe it was the way I raised to believe that there is good in everyone and that we all make mistakes and that life is a lesson to ease into and to realize that even in the grimace hours that a smile can make all the difference.I believe this entirely because mainly I have seen it first hand and I love to give to others that hopefully they receive my mannerisms well.

Smile more,laugh often,share your thoughts and your feelings.Be honest,be faithful and be sincere,I know it seems like a lot to achieve, especially nowadays with all the differences out there realize that everyone has their place in this world and just because you may not agree with how someone lives their life or who someone chooses as their life partner or how someone raises their children they are unique just as you are and they deserve that smile and yes,smiles are contagious.