"Say cheese!"

We've heard this phrase many times before. But how many times have our "cheeses" been fake? Forced?

People tell us to smile, that things will get better. While a smile may not "fix" these situations or times we are going through, they may make you feel just a little bit better.

I'll admit there are times where my face hurts, the corners tight, from smiling.

But that feeling isn't always bad.

It reminds me that there are things in this world that are worth smiling for. I'm blessed each day I wake up with clothes on my back, food in my tummy, and a roof over my head. Sometimes it's easy to forget to be thankful for the little things. One of my favorite sayings is, "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God for the rain?"

I'm not going to lie. There are definitely times that I don't want to smile. That I just can't. And that's okay. It's okay to feel sadness or anger sometimes. It's good, healthy. It's only dangerous when we let these emotions control us and our decisions.

We have a choice to be happy, sad, excited, angry, surprised, homesick, love, and many more.

But it's important to realize what a smile can hold.

A smile can mean understanding, happiness, love, gratitude, even awkwardness (you know when you're in those situations and you don't know what to do or say, so you shove your hands in your pockets, fidgeting, and smile because you can't think of anything to say? Yeah, me too.).

The fact is that smiling looks good on you.

Do it more often. You deserve it.

Ditch the duck face, the blank stare, the hidden emotions.

Let your light shine bright through those two front teeth.

Be proud. Be happy. Be sad.

Just remember to show that one in a million smile.