Healthy Living

Running is not my favorite form of exercise. But it is just so efficient - both calorie and time-wise, that I find myself jogging more and more often. But every time I come home, I swear I have new frown lines around my mouth and forehead and my jaw muscles are sore from clenching them. My runs feel more like a battle than the enjoyable laps around the park that they should be. I love hard exercise, but I’m making myself miserable.

Then yesterday, while jogging, I saw children chasing ducks and falling over in fits of giggles as the ducks squawked away. I saw a man doing comedic flip flops down a hillside, tangled in his dogs leash. And I saw lovers holding hands and laughing in intimate conversation.

And I smiled. I laughed out loud with them all. And suddenly, I loved what I was doing. I loved to run. I loved my run. My heart jumped, and I picked up the pace. I turned off Christina Aguilera screaming about being a fighter , and turned on Simon & Garfunkel’s Feelin’ Groovy.

My pace picked up, and I finished my run happy, exuberant, and smiling. Full of endorphins! I know there are actual physiological reasons why smiling is great for health, fitness, and emotional well-being. But yesterday, I just needed to know that a smile makes exercise a whole lot better.

Read more articles about the psychological benefits of smiling here and here.

Have a story to smile about? Leave a comment below!

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