Make Every Day Happy

IT’S RARE FOR me to be able to quote anyone verbatim. I’m just not one of those blessed with photographic memory. But working on this issue brought me and the team in contact with a few very sensible individuals, whose wise words — as soon as uttered — were etched in my mind.

This quote, in particular, still has me smiling: “I’ve been brought up to believe that even a small smile is an act of kindness and charity, and that the world is a bright and better place when people are kind to each other.” Said by Quantedge Foundation’s Suhaimi Zainul-abidin ( page 164), it reminds me of San Francisco’s Smile Lady, Claire Lemmel, who spreads cheer in her neighbourhood by holding up a poster of her magnified smile.

Oh-so- contagious, smiling is the easiest — and cheapest — act of kindness there is. Put a smile on someone’s face, and you’re activating neural messaging that benefits both his health (studies show that smiling boosts immunity and reduces stress and blood pressure) and happiness.

While flashing a wide smile, Community Chest Chairman Phillip Tan ( page 158) is another sage fellow who left a truism tumbling about in my mind. “Giving can create happiness,” he said. This he learnt at the age of fi ve, when the simple act of sharing rice with a beggar left the young boy feeling happy as well.

Intrigued, I googled. And came across a study by researchers from the University of Zurich who found a neural link between generosity and increased happiness. They discovered that even thinking about doing something generous can help boost the mood.

With so many critical problems in the world today, shouldn’t we all just wear a smile and be kind?