It's Contagious!

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others
without getting a few drops on yourself.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ever notice that when someone is having a bad day and we attempt to cheer them up, we instantly feel a bit better, too? Try this experiment once: Greet people with a smile and a friendly hello for a day and see how you feel. Even if you are tired of the cold temps, depressed about the snow or down about the economy, you will find a spring in your step because you are spreading cheer to others and, inevitably, yourself.

In the photo above, I am pictured front and center with some of my siblings (Rachel, Ron, RoAnn and Raylene) doing our famous orange-rind smiles. It was definitely a goofy childhood thing, but it sure made us laugh. And probably put a smile on our mom's face, too, as she snapped the photo!

Carter is a good one for always trying to make me laugh by things he says or does. Much like his mother and father, he's totally Mr. Entertainer, but he's got that serious, sensitive side, too. Last night after we all got in the house and he was unloading his backpack and I was putting my work stuff away and sorting through the mail, Carter told me to stop. "How about a hug first?" he says. Aww. I like mushy surprises!

I'm a firm believer that, other than the Common Cold, nothing is more contagious than laughter and love. Think about that the next time you give someone a smile or a hug. Don't you feel better, too?

Try spreading some happiness today. And if it doesn't seem to be working, walk around with an orange-rind smile. That should do the trick!