Smiling is one of the most basic, biologically-uniform expressions of all humans and it is so ingrained in us, we actually smile in the womb (proven, with the help of some pregnant mummies and 3D ultrasound technology). More than a third of us smile more than 20 times per day, with children smiling a staggering 400 times per day. Studies have shown that it’s difficult not to return a smile, when smiled at, because it’s evolutionarily contagious, and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles. Another reason why we feel so young when spending time with children.

Charles Darwin had a theory about smiling, which stated that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better, rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good.

Smiling makes us happy. It stimulates our brain reward mechanism in a way that even chocolate, a well known pleasure inducer, can not match. Unlike chocolate, lots of smiling is healthy. It can help reduce the level of stress-enhancing hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine, increase the level of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphin and reduce overall blood pressure.

If you are still not convinced, there are even more reasons to keep smiling! Smiling can actually look good in the eyes of others. A recent study found that when you smile you not only appear to be more likeable and courteous, but you actually appear to be more competent.
So whenever you want to look great and competent, reduce your stress or improve your marriage, or feel as if you just had a whole stack of high-quality chocolate, without incurring the caloric cost, simply crack a smile – it will help you and those around you live a longer, healthier, happier life.

If you are struggling to smile right now, have a look at the video below, smile and share it!

Lesson #2 Embarrass Yourself

How did I do this when it came to running? I decided to announce to the world (i.e. my social network), that I was running.  I knew that to some of them my distances and times were an embarassment, but to be honest it really helped thinking that people were watching my progress via my RunKeeper profile.

I think that announcing to the world that you are running or on a diet is a great idea. It means that you now have people watching your progress ( or lack of), and it gives folk an opportunity to post comments and offer a little bit of support.  I noticed how empty my RunKeeper profile looked at times and that pushed me to get out and run. I like the idea of having a network of running buddies, but due to my current location, I feel a little loney on the old running front.  Still though – putting your successes and failings on a site like RunKeeper or Facebook can be embarrassing but at the end of it all – it has been one of the factors keeping me running.

I am now one of you – yes, I am a runner.  I can hardly believe it myself, but sure that’s where I am and let that be that.   I am currently working on my speed and stamina over 5km.  This may not seem much to some of you, but you didn’t see where I started from – dead people could run faster and for longer than I could when I first started.

I’ve not really much grace when running, but I hope that will come with time and practice. As you can see from the video below, the Phoebe running style is one which many of us are familiar with… I lack Phoebe’s speed, but make up for it by ensuring that my face is redder than the sunburnt Brits abroad.

Everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time – and I was a great example. When running was the last thing on my mind, I had a lovely “encouraging” boyfriend who would nudge me until I got out the door to run. It’s also nice to have a shared hobby, even if he is that bit faster and has a lot more stamina.

I definitely would not be running now, without the support of David Coxon - a man with endless energy, and Sarah Ross – the woman who inspires me to keep going and even managed to get me into pink running gear – you can imagine how much that clashes with my ruby red, sweaty face!

When running, you need support, even if it is just over the phone.  David and Sarah have offered all sorts of advice and encouragement over the past few months and I’d be lost without a lot of it.

The next stage of the “people” part of running, is to find a partner to run with. I think that the dark nights and lack of a friend to pace myself against, may eventually work against me. There is the security aspect too – safety in numbers etc.  I’m currently on the market for a running buddy, or running club and would love to hear from either one as soon as possible.

So remember folks – people – they help and encourage and give you that little push / kick you need, when it matters most.

Australian Organics have a number of sales distributors in England, so don’t bother rushing off to buy them online. The soaps are made from plant oil and not the usual icky animal fats that some of the cheaper brands contain. The site leaves a lot to be desired, but I am so happy that they got their products right!

I do have one reservation though, but it won’t stop me buying their products. Essentially there is nothing online about their company….it’s as if their website is the only list of content and the rest of the details online consist of stockists selling the products. A little bit strange in this day and age I would have thought?  Either way- a great clean feel and definitely relaxed after that run.

It got me thinking – what do people do after a run – do you down a pint of water, sit and relax for a bit or head straight to the shower? I like a mix of all three. Sitting down while sipping a pint of something….generally water, before heading for the shower.

My favourite thing about a post run shower? My mini collection of Lush shower products. They are fab for running over tired muscles – especially my shins, which seem to suffer a lot. I am currently enjoying their minty Ice Blue soap, and Lemslip (which is great for that super all over clean feeling).

I love the customer service experience in their various branches (a big shout out to their Boro store staff).  The happy little Lush helpers are always on had to advise on products, presents, and sometimes a nice natter when the store is quiet!  The Lush site is full of information on their ingredients (via their Lushopedia), their mission statement, their latest “Lush Times” publication and lots more.

All in all, the site is full of lovely content, but they could work on access a little more…..the site isn’t the easiest to navigate at times when looking for something specific.

You can follow @Lush on Twitter or check them out on Facebook.

What else is going on with the We Are Open project?

The “We Are Open”  idea comes from the popular movement in the US, where local councils revive prime spaces in city centres, by opening them to local artists, writers and musicans…and garden designers!  The shops / projects within these three sites change regularly, without warning.  If you want to know what is coming up there is a flyer available on site, which outlines the upcoming activities.

The three sites are located in the city centre – Newport Road, Linthorpe Road and Albert Road. All three are worth a look, so check them out.

My favourite upcoming project…..you guessed it – “Mama Dot’s Tea Room”. This experience will run from the 30th September until the 3rd of October. Why not drop in and warm your hands on a cuppa while chatting to some of the locals?

We Are Open…..My Thoughts

First of all – I love the idea and fair play to Middlesbrough Council for taking a leap of faith and letting Jenny and Nicky to run with the project. I read somewhere (I think it was the BBC news site), that one in five shops in Middlesbrough are now closed. This had had a major impact on the look of the town, if nothing else. By launching the We Are Open project, the Council have brought a bit of life to the dead parts of the town, and given designers, artists and the like, a chance to meet a larger portion of their market face to face.

The drawbacks – there are a few. I just don’t think that there just aren’t enough of the shops in prime locations, which is a shame. It would be good if the council could identify the properties which lay in the path of the largest number of shoppers and then move the artists there.

I don’t think the public know what the shops are, or represent.  This could be solved by distributing flyers to houses in the region, or having a council representative available on site in order to explain the point of the projects to the public. Lord knows that the artists in residence have not conveyed the message very well. Not for lack of trying – more for the lack of sales skills and time!

There are a lot of artists and what not that I have not been to see. I think it might be a good idea to have a “What You Missed” page, with photos of the work or sales items and then contact details for those concerned.  That way, people like me could benefit by catching up with past projects, and the creatives might get some post project sales?

Again – I adore the project – these thoughts are just a few ideas that I couldn’t keep to myself….rightly or wrongly!

I recently bought a running magazine – and it’s not half bad. Women’s Running is aimed at a growing number of women who are seeing the benefits of  ditching the big gym membership costs, in favour of the outdoors.   I picked it up randomly, half expecting it to be full of adverts and nay sayers who were pushing various costly products on you, but I have been pleasantly surprised.  There is quite a bit of advertising (which is to be expected of magazines these days), but the publication is actually packed full of interesting articles and it has definitely spurred me to take up running again. It made me consider the rut I had been in with my route – the same distance and environment, which just added up to route fatigue! This evening I changed me route and it actually really made a real difference – I ran faster and further without realising how far I was going.

I have also just signed up to Runner’s World magazine and I’ll be interested in seeing how it compares to the Women’s Running magazine.

RunKeeper has been keeping me motivated – one major benefit of the 3GS with the upgraded OS4 – RunKeeper and iPod going at the same time. I have just taken a look at the site for the first time, and decided that I would make my profile public.It is a lovely site  – nice, clean, easy to use and navigate.  I hope it will spur me to do more excercise. Time will tell I guess.

I did struggle with and iPhone holder, but I’ve finally settled on one. I’ve learned that none of the iPhone holders are built to last and they expect you to squeeze your iPhone into the holder, which will eventually tear the rubber holding the iPhone secure. Anyway, the one I picked is fine  – if you have skinny arms, then this is the one for you. It does come with an extension piece for those of you with muscles or fat arms ( like me!).   I’m worried that transfering it from my usual iPhone holder to the sports holder will eventually snap the iPhone though….best of a bad lot though.

I am in the process of learning how to love iTunes……I have hated it for the last seven months, but feel it’s time to put my bitter hatred aside, and learn to love it. This in mind, I’ve been looking for some “running” music. Thanks to the Women’s Running magazine, I found AudioFuel – worth a look if you have the cash! I’m looking forward to my first purchase.

If I didn’t have AudioFuel, I would most likely have to spend a good but of time creating my own list (AC/DC featuring heavily).

So, please do drop me a line if you have advice or music suggestions and if you fancy teaming up with a tubby runner  – give me a call, as I need the encouragement!

Between the full time job, the renovations of the house, the two cats and a bit of freelancing – the blog was bottom of my To-Do list! I’ll be back again soon though – I promise!

In the meantime – follow me on Twitter or say hello to me via LinkedIn or Facebook – links on the side of this page!

Yes, a Saturday.

Yes, it starts at 10am.

Yes, I hope that the Trinity rugby team will be playing outside….where I can see them!

Looking like it’ll be interesting but not too sure. Unproven models can sometimes fit in perfectly with the market – other times, the organiser or delegates  miss the point completely and it’s a disaster. Will keep you updated either way.  I think Thinking Digital is a great example of an unproven model totally knocking the socks off delegates and funders alike. It’s setting the tone for other events in the North East and beyond.  Prices are steep, but well worth it.

Excited, but not enthused by the sign up method. It doesn’t seem uniform. I kept my description short and sweet but others are short of  “War and Peace”.  Is there some bettter way of preventing self promotion??

Likewise, speakers are not being pushed as much as they should be. It would be good to get a bit of background on them, a little bit of self promotion on their side may ensure that delegates know what they are signing up for.  One speaker (John Whelan) describes himself as a “Terminal entrepreneur”, really not too sure if that’s a good thing.

Having said all that, I do have three people on my “must meet list”, which will probably grow as I identify those speakers and delegates that I could benefit from. I’m thinking (in no particular order….)

1) Pat Phelan -  This man appears everywhere, so it might be wise to assume he knows a) a lot of people in digital  b) he’s no fool c) he’s a good person to speak to if you want to get the lay of the land in Ireland from a digital perspective.  He’s got a good run down of what he does on his site, but this is by no means the end to his talents and network.

2) Daragh Doyle – self styled (modest)  guru of all things community. Describes himself as : “Boards.ie Community Manager, entertainment and events blogger and sharer of awful jokes.” You can also add him on LinkedIn.

3) Evert Bopp – Founder of the Business Camp and all round ambitious risk taker. It would be interesting to hear what his experiences are in terms of self funded ventures, events and incubators.

I might throw in a few of the delegates that caught my eye, but not too sure if it’s a factual bio or just shameless self-promotion.

If anyone fancies a cuppa while I’m over, grab me while you can – I’ll only be in Dublin for the day!