The Power of a Smile and the Ripple Effect of Kindness

Every year, on the first Friday of October, the world celebrates World Smile Day®. The inspiration for this day comes from the iconic smiley face, created in 1963 by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Massachusetts. Over time, the smiley face became a global symbol of goodwill and positivity. However, as it gained popularity, Ball grew concerned about its over-commercialization and the loss of its original meaning. To reclaim its purpose, he established World Smile Day®, encouraging people to focus on smiles and kind acts – focus on what unites us: our shared humanity.