’‘I smiled because I was free — I smiled because I was alive." said 7-year-old Kiki Joachin. He was rescued along with his sister Sabrina on Tuesday, 20 January 2010, but three of their siblings — Yeye, 9; Titite, 3; and 18-month-old Didine — didn’t make it.

Pure joy: Kiki Joachin

2010 Copyright Mark McDermott Tuesday, 20 Jan 2010

Kiki’s smile lit up the gloom felt not only by those in Haiti but the world watching and smile back at him. It dramatically illustrates the power of a smile.

Researcher Dr. Dacher Keltner- at University of California Berkley says that if you smile, even if you don’t feel like it can make you feel happier. Facial expression alone, without first feeling the corresponding emotion, is enough to create discernible changes in your autonomic nervous system.

If you can’t do it naturally force yourself to smile, or even just hold a pencil between your teeth. This maneuver activates your smile muscles. Doing this your heart rate goes down and you start to feel calmer, happier. The theory ‘facial feedback’ hypothesis states that “involuntary facial movements provide sufficient peripheral information to drive emotional experience.”

Can smiling make you happy? Research suggests you do - at least physiologically immediately feel better. The changes in our facial muscles cue our brains and provide the basis of our emotions. Just as there are an unlimited number of muscle configurations in our face that correspond with an unlimited number of emotions. In fact, Charles Darwin was among the first to suggest that physiological changes caused by an emotion had a direct impact on, rather than being just the consequence of that emotion.

Smiling doesn’t just offer isolated individual benefits, it’s infectious. It is an action, which entreats a reaction. In addition, the more you smile, the less you are physically capable of frowning. It cultivates feelings of gratitude and boosts one’s health. It also improves relationships.

KiKi & David Joachin

2010 Copyright Scott Hornby/NI/ Syndication

Looking at Kiki it is a natural reflex to smile, but more his extend arms open wide expressing not only the joy of being alive, but seeing the faces of those willing to search and rescue him.

I woke up this morning, The sunshine was shining I put on my happy face I’m living, I’m able, I’m breathing, I’m grateful To put on my happy face

Woke up and realized This world’s not So bad after all Looked at it through A child’s eyes, and I saw these beautiful Things that you Never think about Like the ocean, moonlight, Stars and clouds It’s amazing how We don’t appreciate Our blessings

Songwriters: Lee, Bill; Gaines, Calvin C.; Knowles, Beyonce; Fusari, Robert D.; Moore, Falonte 2001 CD Survivor