When you see a bright yellow smiley face, what do you think of? You may envision emojis for texts or social media posts or view it in ads, but this symbol has a more significant meaning, especially today! October 4 is World Smile Day, and its symbol is the iconic smiley face. In this post, you’ll learn about its fascinating history and significance, which may motivate you to do something extra to be kind.
The Origin of the Smiley Face
With many turbulent political and social moments during the 1960s, an artist from Worcester wanted to send a different kind of message. When he created the now well-known yellow smiley face, he intended it to be a symbol of kindness, meant to remind everyone to show others compassion and civility, even if their ethnicity, political views, religious beliefs, or economic background differed from their own.
World Smile Day Now
The smiley face quickly grew in popularity, and corporations used it for advertisements, making it difficult to hold on to its original meaning. In 1999, however, World Smile Day declared that the artist’s intent would be celebrated and remembered. On October 4, to honor World Smile Day, you should perform at least act of kindness for someone and help them smile.
Sharing a Smile
Believe it or not to make a significant impact on another person, you probably don’t need to make a big gesture. Something as simple as being polite, holding the door, or even just smiling can make their day a little bit brighter. Did you know that you have plenty of opportunities in your own community to be kind? A donation to a drive or worthy organization or another small act of kindness can bring a smile to your own face as well as to the recipient!
Kindness for Your Own Smile
Without a doubt, you should choose to be kind to others, but taking care of yourself is another form of kindness. If you have poor oral health, you’ll probably find it harder to share your smile with those around you, hindering the joy you can spread. To properly safeguard your teeth and gums from bacteria, you must get in the habit of brushing and flossing daily. Making regular visits to your dentist for checkups and cleanings is also essential to keep your smile strong for years to come. In some cases, additional dental work needs to be done to get back on track, but it’s worthwhile! With restored oral health, you can confidently share your smile with people freely, helping them feel good too.
Whether it’s on World Smile Day or any other day of the year, take even just a little amount of time and effort to be kind to someone in your community.
About the Practice
With West Brookfield Dental, our mission goes beyond the patients who visit our practice. Through the Simply Doing Good Network, we reach dozens of communities in New England. On top of events and annual donation drives, we sponsor local sports teams and support schools to make our area a better place. If you know of a cause or organization we should help, let us know by calling our team at 508-867-2777 or clicking here.
