Comments on: Arriving in Petchaburi

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:34:08 +0000

Ed – You don’t even have to link back to me!

Dad – I tried it at customs in Indonesia. Expect a phone call.

Nicole – This post couldn’t have happened without you!

Kim & Adam – You guys connect with the most random people all over. Maybe it’s because they think you’re Jewish?

Mom – I’ve read those things too – apparently just the act of using those smile muscles can accomplish the effects of actually smiling. Amazing.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:39:02 +0000

Thanks for the credit Mike :) I am excited to hear how this awareness adds to your travel experience this year.

By: Ed Book

Ed Book — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:09:14 +0000

Thank you for your smile, I’ll pass it on…

Peace

By: Arnie

Arnie — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:51:30 +0000

Try winking. I find some interesting reactions.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:58:54 +0000

Love it Mike, and Susan… we have that bumper sticker too! I agree, smiling is so powerful, throughout all of our travels I think smiles have gotten us farther than any amount of money ever could :).

By: susan goldstein

susan goldstein — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:54:06 +0000

Wow. That is a life changing insight and awareness, Mike.

I saw a bumper sticker today that said “Wag more, bark less”. Yes.

On another note, two recent findings by neurologists:
(1) Women who have botox (forehead) feel angry less often.
(2) When unhappy people smile, they feel happier.

The brain and body are connected, and deeply communicate with each other.

By: Quarter Year » Gambling in a Bangkok shantytown

Quarter Year » Gambling in a Bangkok shantytown — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:24:45 +0000

[...] get cheated, though the money was a minor concern. Mostly I didn’t want to be a fool. I tried the smiling thing on the walk tonight, but approaching a group of men drinking whiskey and gambling I decided to cool [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:48:09 +0000

Well thank you, Nicole! It is our profound post, yours and mine, and I changed the authorship accordingly.

It’s actually about 5 different topics that could all be addressed individually, but they all kinda piled on in one outing. Such is the density of experience on the road.

I’m noticing the nice mental health effects of the smiling thing – it’s so fun! Don’t know why I didn’t try it earlier, it feels so good!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

And By “our” post, I actually meant “your.” Heh. OK, I was subconsciously trying to take credit.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:38:54 +0000

I LOVE the image of you trying to force yourself to smile at the bird on the cow. I actually think our post is one of your most profound ever. The description of the old woman smiling was amazing, and the realization of how simple it is to change a tense or stoic exchange into a joyful one is so vital to interpersonal communication, international relations, and mental health. YAY Mike!