When you're smiling

Sheindel Weinbach wrote a piece in the Hamodia this week in which she invites her readers to take part in a laughter session where Y. Kotler "introduces the public to the numerous possibilities of laughter therapy." At one session Ms. Kotler told her audience that when she is stuck in a traffic jam, she removes a pencil from the dashboard and sticks it into her mouth. "Now she can't grumble... This is an exercise she's developed to force her to smile. You can't possibly pout with a pencil in your mouth, because your cheek muscles are in smile-mode."
A relative of mine has been swimming with a friend in her private pool for the past year. After seeing a program about laughter therapy, they have now incorporated a minute of laughter into their session. Members of the household heard the laughter and went to investigate. They ended up taking part, as well.
This afternoon I went to visit a friend. As I was leaving, she wished me a shana tovah and said, "thank you for being my friend." My mouth curved into a big smile. And it felt good.