This has been a really nice exercise. Today I’ve visited a dear friend who is a ‘voluntary solitary’, spent time at a local hospital, and visited a number of shops and so there have been lots of opportunities to carry out this action. I enjoy smiling at folk and almost always a smile comes in return. What I am not sure about is whether any of them found their day brightened by this or whether they were responding out of politeness! I certainly feel better if I smile, and also feel a better connection with someone who is smiling at me.

I have been thinking about the possible value of a smile. As a mother of a young baby I remember waiting for his first smile, and also what a joy it was when it came. I always wonder whether the smile comes at the point when parents may be tearing their hair out and longing for a positive response – so perhaps a smile is an evolutionary behaviour that enhances connection with our carers?

Smiling is clearly an important part of social interaction. Can we always distinguish between a genuine smile and one that is put on? Research has found that some children as young as 6 or 7 can spot a fake one and it seems that this skill increases with age.  However other research suggests that most people can fake a genuine smile when they want to. So where does that leave us? I like to think that when I smile at someone it is real and reflects a positive emotion I am feeling, and for the most part, I trust that someone else’s smile is also authentic … even if they are busy shop-keepers, stressed hospital receptionists, etc. and perhaps my smiling at them, I can brighten their day a little!