Smile, Darn Ya, Smile

News Flash: Faking smiles at work when you're really unhappy can make you feel worse than you already do.

We wage slaves already knew that. But now there's a study that might clue in your managers and (dare we hope?) put an end to their daily exhortations to "Smile!"

The command comes with a big fake grin of his or her own, is invariably delivered at a moment when you are not remotely inclined to be pleasant, and has much the same effect as fingernails raking down a blackboard.

But now that I think about it, most of us are only one TPS report away from screaming as it is, and letting it all hang out just might send us over the edge. The Smile is an emotional condom. It might not feel good, but the alternative is so much worse.

So much of life is a choice between the lesser of two evils, isn't it?