With the cost of living crisis and political turmoil causing widespread distress, it can feel like there's little to be happy about as the gloom of winter looms closer. But small gestures can go a long way to cheering up someone's day.
A simple smile at a stranger as you pass them on the street is one example, although the days of doffing a cap and wishing someone good morrow might seem like a tradition resigned to the past. Lots of us are guilty of shuffling around staring at our phones rather than engaging with other people when we're out and about.
Whether it's just a case of being oblivious to the interaction, reluctant to engage with a random person or just plain rudeness, dishing out a warm smile to get nothing in return can feel like a personal rejection. One Bristol Post reader who experienced this was so disappointed by the lack of response that he wrote into the paper.
Read more: Bristol Live launches Cost of Living group for tips and advice
In a letter published in print this week, Phil Evans questioned if there was a 'tax on smiling' that he had failed to hear about. He wrote:
"On my morning walk around I nodded to two strangers, both men, who were looking at me. This was a social recognition of them.
"They did not respond at all. Is there a special tax on nodding to or smiling at strangers, to acknowledge they have acknowledged you as a human being?
"How sad that some middle-aged grumpy men cannot be bothered with any social niceties. There are some right miserable grumpy folk around, and not all in the Cabinet."
While his account was to the contrary, scientists have consistently shown that smiling is contagious - seeing someone else smile can trigger an involuntary muscular reaction that also makes you smile.
It also activates the release of endorphins and serotonin resulting in decreased stress levels and a lifted mood. So, especially in today's antisocial society, you can do a lot worse than to keep on smiling.
To send a letter to the Bristol Post email epletters@bepp.co.uk or sign in and join the conversation in the comments section below
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- How an audio story walk helped a Bristol resident bring Staple Hill’s hidden stories to life
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