The day was created by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester
(Picture: REUTERS/Sean Yong)October 7 is World Smile Day, an annual day created by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1963.
The creator of the smiley face established World Smile Day because he was concerned about the over-commercialisation of his symbol.
His aim was to devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts all over the globe
Ball died in 2001, but his legacy lives on, to remind us that in a world full of war, crime, cost of living angst and climate change fears – that happiness can still win.
What are the benefits of smiling?
When we smile, endorphins pass along signals from one neuron to the next. Endorphins block pain and are also responsible for our feelings of pleasure.
The relationship between a smile and endorphins is when we are in a happy environment – these neuronal signals are sent to our facial muscles to trigger a smile, which can instantly boost our mood.
Smiling is known to relieve stress, boost your immune system, make you more productive, and help you to live longer.
So, it’s the perfect day to make others smile while trying to make sure you also have a smile on your face. And to make that a bit easier, here are some positive news stories to get you through the day:
1. England Women sold out Wembley again
Another victory for women’s football, as they sold out Wembley again for today’s match against the USA
2. Nobel Prize awarded to Ukraine, Russia and Belarus campaigners
The Nobel Peace Prize has been won by Ales Bialiatski, a prominent Belarusian human rights activist, who is currently being held in prison without trial. As well as the Russian campaign group Memorial and Ukraine's Centre for Civil Liberties.
The winners were announced in Oslo by Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
She said the judges wanted to honour “three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine”.
3. Trevor McDonald has teamed up with Alexa to narrate inspiring Black British stories
Throughout October, Alexa users will be able to hear the veteran broadcaster bring the tales to life by saying “Alexa, tell me a story about black British history”.
The heartwarming short stories explore the lives of Notting Hill Carnival founder Claudia Jones, black British designer Althea McNish, and Evelyn Dove, who was the first black singer to feature on BBC Radio.
4. London could see more natural species’
Sadiq Khan has announced a second round of funding for Rewild London which aims to make the city a more attractive home for wildlife, meaning wildlife we know and love could return to London.
Funded projects could include creating new habitats such as meadows or heathlands, restoring waterways or linking up the capital's last remaining ancient woodlands to provide new homes for wildlife, such as birds like the tawny owl, swift and skylark.
5. A Cancer-killing therapy has shown promise in patients
UK scientists say the new therapy which uses a common virus to infect and destroy harmful cells is showing big promise in early human trials. One patient's cancer vanished, and others saw their tumours shrink.
6. There will be a partial solar eclipse on October 25, 2022
You can look forward to seeing a partial solar eclipse on October 25, when the Moon partially obscures the Sun, in one of the biggest astronomical events of the year.
The best time to catch this special moment from the UK will be from 10 am BST until 1 pm BST
7. All-new electric bikes have been launched in London
New e-bikes have launched in London. They are faster, require less pedal power than the normal Santander Cycles and smoother.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said this morning: “I am delighted to see our first ever Santander Cycles E-bikes in action on London's streets today, and to join Londoners riding these e-bikes around our city on their first day.”
“The new e-bikes have an important role to play in breaking down some of the barriers that prevent Londoners from getting on a bike, whether that be fitness, age or length of journey,” he said.
“I’m determined to make cycling as accessible as possible as we continue building a safer, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”
