What if the simplest thing you did today — curling up the corners of your mouth — could make you feel even 1% better? In this solo episode, host Lisa Hartung laces up her running shoes and shares a reflection born from the road: smiles are free, they cost nothing, and they might be exactly what a stranger needs today.

Lisa talks about the science behind smiling, how the physical act of smiling, even a forced one, can shift your emotional state. She shares her personal mission to make at least one TSA agent smile every time she passes through airport security, and how running through neighborhoods, waving and smiling at fellow people exercising, walking their dogs, or chatting with friends, fills her with joy.

For anyone living alone or isolated in grief, Lisa reminds us that a genuine smile and a warm "thank you" to your pharmacist or grocery cashier might be the most meaningful human connection you have that day. It is a simple act that really matters. Don't rush past it. Cherish the moment.

If you are sitting with someone who is deep in grief, you don't have to have the right words. Show up. Smile. Be present. That is enough.

How many smiles will you give to others this week?

Stay tuned. Episode 52 is coming next week and it's a BIG one: one full year of Giving Grief Grace! 🎉

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Special thanks to:

Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music

Podcast Music Good_B_Music

Epsiode 51 - Free Smiles: The Tiny Act That Lifts a Grieving Heart