Thursday, October 7, 2010

Today is World Smile Day


Harvey Ball with Smiley Face Image

Are you smiling?

Today has been designated World Smile Day by Harvey Ball of Worcestor, Massachusetts. He felt that one day a year should be devoted to smiling and doing acts of kindness; so, he began the first celebration on October 1, 1999.

"I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper because it was a shiney and bright" he said in a 1966 interview with the Associated Press.

Ball is a commercial artist who first created the smiley face in 1963; he was hired by State Mutual Life Assurance Company as a free lancer to design a smiling face to boost company morale following a merger to two insurance companies. Its popularity grew slowly and then in the 1970's it exploded becoming very popular.

A stamp with the smiley face has been issued by the US Post Office.

So, have you done your act of kindness yet?




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