smile...

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

-Phyllis Diller

This morning I treated myself to a Pilates class at the gym. No, I've never done Pilates and no, I wasn't good. But hey, you can't be good at something if you don't try, right? The teacher, a thin, tattooed blonde mother of four, pushed me to try and stretch myself. And as I sit here and type, my abs, legs and arms ache...so it worked!

She encouraged us with her little words of wisdom throughout the class. She said, "you can choose how you want to live your life.....you have a choice every single day.....do you choose illness or wellness?" Sure, they're simple, but they really hit me hard this morning. We do have a choice everyday to be happy or sad, be joyful or depressed, eat an apple or a candy bar, etc. The joy that we exhibit to others will not only change our life, but it will also change someone else's life. She reminded us that a smile on our face will effect how someone responds.

So, I came home and did some research on the effects of smiling. Here's what I found:

1. Smiling makes us attractive: we are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction fact. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces push people away.

2. Smiling changes our mood: next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance your mood will change for the better.

3. Smiling is contagious: when someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others and make things happier.

4. Smiling relieves stress: stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed.

5. Smiling boosts your immune system: smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed.

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure: when you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure.

7. Smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin: together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger: the muscle we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day.

9. Smiling makes you seem successful: smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached.

10. Smiling helps you stay positive: when we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

(About.com: Longevity)

Proverbs 15:13 says "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."

You can tell the condition of a person's heart by looking at their facial expression. When people are happy, you can tell by the sparkle in their eyes, their smile and their cheerful attitude. You can also read on a person's face when they have sorrow in their heart, especially when you know a person. Scripture tells us that if we allow this sorrow of heart to continue, it can break our spirits. Jesus died on the cross, not only to give us eternal life, but He also died to take our grief and sorrows. Since He took them, we do not have to take these things, but rather receive our salvation, healing, deliverance and peace by faith.

So, today....are you smiling because "Life is good"? .....or are you frowning?