Smiling at strangers

It’s always good to get feedback. In recent months I’ve had most comments two of my articles, Living in the moment and Be Happy. I will publish my thoughts about Living in the moment next week. I deal here with the comments I received about Be Happy.

In Be Happy, I included ten tips for happiness. It was one of these, smiling at strangers, that provoked the most response. One of my correspondents told me that she had discussed the idea of smiling at strangers with her husband. He couldn’t understand what could possibly be gained through smiling at someone you don’t know. Her response was that you never knew what was going on in other peoples’ lives. A smile might be just what someone needs to help them through a difficult time.My perspective is different. I think we should smile at strangers, not because it might be good for them, but because it’s good for us. It helps to take us out of ourselves, to connect us with the world around us. My correspondent’s husband suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a form of depression that affects people during dark winter months. It’s thought to be linked to the lack of daylight. Studies have shown that spending a few minutes each day in front of a lightbox can help to lift the mood of those affected. I believe that my friend’s husband treats himself in this way.While it’s too simplistic to suggest that there’s a link, I wonder whether this man would find that he was less prone to depression if he engaged more with those around him. My experience is that those who look out, and reach out tend to be happier. Have a go at smiling at a stranger today and see what happens.