Surprise! This isn’t about how disease is spread from one person to another. This is about how what we do effects others.

I don’t think anyone would argue that panic is contagious. But experts agree that for panic to set in there has to be a distinct set of cirmcumstances associated with it.

The rest I guess is just mob mentality. To view this kind of thing live just turn on the TV and watch the anti-American craziness going on over an obscure film. I suppose looting is a symptom of this communal misbehavior.

And while the evidence doesn’t back it up, I’m pretty sure sneezing is catchy (and not just through the germs). Because anytime someone sneezes around me, I start to sneeze or maybe the velocity of their sneezes kicks up dust?

Scientists know that groups of females living/working together will eventually start to cycle together. And certainly there seems to be a rash of pregnancies all happening around me.

But what about smiling?

According to the TED program I watched smiling is contagious, but not in the way you’d think. We mimic a smile because we’re testing to see if it is real. A real smile releases endorphines equivalent to 10K chocolate bars. Yeah, I didn’t believe that either, but a smile can change your mood for the better and add years to your lifespan.

While I’m not willing to give up my chocolate, I do like to smile and now that it’s good for me, I’ll do it more often. And as a bonus, people will wonder what I’m up to:-)