What is your most valuable fashion accessory? I would suggest that it’s not an expensive piece of jewelry, a silk scarf, or an amazing pair of shoes. No, I would say that it’s your smile!

Image: Reader’s Digest

A smile has a way of lighting up a room and making everyone feel welcome. It brightens your face and makes you appear more confident, friendly and approachable. In fact, the first thing we notice about a person is seldom the clothes they’re wearing. Several years ago, a survey for USA Today found that 47% of respondents chose a great smile as the feature that most attracted them to another person. Their eyes came second at 31%.

Apparently, smiling can have profound impact on your mental and physical health too . The simple act of smiling can improve your mood, reduce stress, boost your immune system, and help improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. What’s not to like about that?

Smiling is also contagious. During the year that we lived in Japan, I didn’t speak the language. I wasn’t able to converse with many people, but I made a point of smiling at everyone I passed. The reactions were interesting. Known as a publicly reserved people and especially shy about interacting with foreigners, many looked startled and some quickly looked away, but many faces lit up and smiled back at me. I liked to think that I added a moment of warmth to their day as they had done to mine. After all, a smile is the same in any language!

So, next time you go out, don’t forget to wear your most valuable accessory, your smile!