Sometimes it’s the simplest thing that can make a difference in your relationship.

One of my favorite authors, Mira Kirschenbaum, wrote in her book The Emotional  Energy Factor:  The Secrets High-Energy People Use to Beat Emotional Fatigue that smiling at your spouse first thing in the morning can positively set your whole day.

Made sense to me. And, in my book, anything Ms. Kirschenbaum says to do, I do.

So, I started. To smile, that is. Some days it feels like I’m just plastering a goofy grin on my face. It feels like it is literally cracking under me, because it just.doesn’t.want.to.smile. Other times, it comes quite naturally. But, regardless, I flash those teeth every a.m. (morning breath and all).

 The fact I’ve kept it up for seven days now is kind of amazing. I am at my most immature in the morning. I’m grumpy. Don’t want to get up. And, heaven help the person who asks me a question before 9 a.m.

(Nothing can reveal pockets of immaturity like marriage. Well, I’ve heard parenting is like that, but I am unfamiliar with that territory.  After being married, I have found that just when you think you’re grown up, you find more growing up to do.)

I’ve often told single women they possess one of life’s most powerful man-attracting tools – their smile. They should smile at every man they meet (leaving out the scary ones, of course). Funny it didn’t dawn on me that once you’re in a relationship that the same smile that attracted your spouse is the one you should continue to give every day.

And, you know what? It works. I find I’m in a better mood all around. Husband often smiles back, which is always uplifting. And, suddenly I find myself smiling more at strangers – like, all the time.

Now, as an experiment  I am going to smile every time I greet Husband – first thing in the morning, when I walk back into the house after work, when he returns from taking out the garbage – an extra wide smile for that last one — etc.

It’s simple. But, effective.