Singing in the Cold

I recall the time I was walking towards the entrance of a grocery store when I spotted a woman walking past me carrying her groceries and singing. I found this to be very unusual since it was very cold outside. Seeing someone singing a song in public is a rare sighting indeed.

But something very interesting took place. My mood, fairly sour at the time, improved instantly upon seeing and hearing this strange person.

Why would that be, I asked myself.

It seems that happiness is contagious.

It's similar to laughter. If someone is laughing out loud in front of us, we often start laughing ourselves, even if we don't know what we're laughing about.

Hollywood knew many years ago that running a laugh track during a TV sitcom would enhance audience appreciation.

Recent research from Harvard Medical School shows that happiness is something that can spread from one person to another - very much like (dare I say it), a virus.

Another study, this one from the University of Pennsylvania, revealed that our brains - inundated with bad news - are starving for positive feelings. So when we see another person being happy, we immediately grab onto that "vibe" and become a little happier ourselves.

Social scientists tell us that the best way to stop an argument or any kind of conflict is to use humor.

It breaks the ice. And allows everyone to relax.

On a recent radio talk show, a man described the time that he was being mugged. A stranger threatened him with a gun if he didn't hand over his money. Rather than trembling in fear and playing the victim - the shocked man simply laughed at the mugger. And blurted out: "ha ha. This is funny."

Miraculously, the attacker started to laugh too and walked away !

I think about the times that family members and friends had a spring in their step. A smile on their face. Times in which they easily laughed. And yes, sang a song or did a little dance.

All of these times had put a smile on my gloomy face.

Such small gestures can have a huge impact.

These days, we don't really expect people to be happy. We expect the opposite. We have become accustomed to hearing others complain, display a bad mood and ignite their temper at the slightest annoyance.

In a world where people wave their fists, bully, grunt and look mean - we search for those tiny and fleeting moments where happiness emerges. Often for no reason other than the joy of just being alive.

This coming year, will you join me in an experiment?

Do a little dance. Sing a song. Whistle a tune. Show others that you're in a happy mood (even if you have to fake it).

Then watch the magic happen.