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to-wsrmrxrcnlonm-my. we. 2012 5 l O .‘ Th Smil E 'd ' e 8 pl emlc “MN, Smiling is contagious, according to man whose prolect has gone rural By BoaVrtMNM: M‘MW'W Open Streets Uptown mysterious illness that strikes Waterloo set for Aug. 12 A unexpectedly and takes away the use of your legs could chal- Open Streets UpTown Waterloo continues on lenge the resolve of even the happiest - . i ' Aug. 12. ‘ person. J » ”J The public can enjoy a traffic-free day from But Waterloo's lim Moss said it has a, Central to Union streets. Enjoy an alleys. spans taught him a lesson in gratitude. and m 2‘ demonstrations, community booths. games and how to appreciate the little things in life. .ng J." . h. ._ 2 . 41‘: its“ 5:; . uptown businesses and eateries At least three food "l'm spreading the smile.” he said. » M i": , " i J ‘ I“. _ . Jig“. trucks will also be pan of the festivities. 1119 former pro hockey and lacrosse «‘15,, ' _. , ""3 ‘4 J .J. ‘ ‘ .‘;§.._,i.2:_~f,a .3. .jj Those who attended last year’s events will player has turned the experience into a J,» ' “‘25:, gs} flw‘fw’g.) notice the time change from ‘1 pm. to 4 pm. and : blog called The Smile Epidemic as a . {giggit therewill be programming along the entire route. ‘ spin on the type of gratitude journals ‘ as; W“ . "gm There will be a total of four events this summer used to keep positive thoughts flowing 't xiii: ffififigi- _‘ corresponding to other significant days. including during long recoveries. Moss himself 3 ' " fr“ ‘r "' " .. . ~ the TD Kitchener Blues Festival on Aug. 12 and was doing something similar during a " Doors OpenWaterloo on Sept. 16. long recovery from a mysterious ail- ‘ For more information, including how to get ment that left the healthy and active involved.goto wwwopenstreetsutwca. father of two bedridden and wonder- You can also follow the festival's “litter feed for ing about his future, lim Moss used a health challenge three years ago to launch The Smile Epidemic that the 13‘5‘ developments @OpenStreetsU'IW ‘l was still a pro athlete at that point accentuates the positive and has received recognition from the Oprah Network. playing pm lacrosse. and n was a mas- ”we": Registration deadline for sive change.“ said Moss. 'lt was kind of “People started to submit their own to focus on the positive when you're not difficult because i couldn't be the full- and ask for more from me,” said Moss doing it consciously." Youth maderShip can!) on dad i wanted to be at times “it kind of grew from there.” He's since gone on to join a Toronto , ”So when l was in the hospital the i It also helped support a fundraiser at based research team called The Happi- The second annual “13‘9"” “98‘0“ Museum first time (three years ago) I used agrati- the Laurelwood Dairy Queen last week ness Enhancement Group, and he's 'Youth leadership Camp takes place AUS- 17, stan- tude journal as a tool to focus on the for Lydia Merrie. the local girl facing a taken the message to local schools m a "‘3 8‘ 9 am.. to Aug !8' 5:30 p.m., for youth 13 ‘0 positive things and keep your spirits long recovery after being struck by a way for kids to cope with their chal- 16years of age. Particrpants wrll 31999 one “'8'" at elevated so you can get better." recycling truck while getting off a school lenges and soften the blows the museum. lie wasnt a loss for words to describe bus in May. Moss said people respond to a smile The program takes Pl?“ 0"" “”0 fun-filled all the things he was going through. so "It was just an application of what whether it is psychological or physlo- days 3‘ the Waterloo R9810“ Museum and 00°“ he came up with a simple representa- we were doing where we could send logical, as hasbeen showin recent stud- Heritage ““383 , _ , tion of trying to accentuate the positive. pictures and messages of support to let. ' This ”WEN camp is an exam OPPOWDIFY "i didn't write as often as I should somebody else." said Moss. “ 'They've uncovered these things {0' youth 1° tmprovecommunication skills both m because i wasn't a writer,” said Moss. The project has sincobne onto called mirror neurons and they're really team-work and “de9“ s"“{‘"°“5 by making "I'm a visual learner so i started taking earn him a grant from the KWAwesome in tune with your emotions,” said Moss. presentations. and public speaking ‘0 the visiting pictures" Foundation to expand his work, and 'When somebody walks into the room While 3‘ the Waterloo Region Museum and D00“ it involved taking a picture of himself he's recently filmed a segment for the and they're down, it brings everybody Heritage Village. . masked by a piece of paper with a wide Oprah Winfrey Network Canada. shar- down because your body is picking up WW“ M“ PM“ and develop problem- ‘ smile drawn on it. and a thought writ- inghisexpen'enoe. on it. With smiling it works the same solvingskills m avartety 9fwwmpmmm is J ten out about what made him happy It also gave him the inspiration to go way.” ' “30 designedto help build self-esteem "“1 oonfl- { that day. back to school and study ”my, P5)“ Smfling is contagious and should be donor: in individuals by helping them discover 1 “i would hold them up where my chology. He'll be starting a master's shared with as manypeople as possible. their potential "“1 abilities The “"0“,“ camp ; smilewasanditkindofevolvedintothe degreeinthefallandbesaidresearch hemid. MudesalmdmhlpCampt-shmdlnneronfii- . smile with the writing." said Moss ”The shows the frequency at which we 'l say smiles are currency. like dayeveningand breakfast and lunch on WY- 4 picturecapmresthesmfleyfnoeandthe apressandlookforpositivethingcan dungeâ€"don'thoardthemawayina Wilmmepmmisslool’MHST-W' ; body attitude. while the message chanppeople'soutlooh» jar, they're not making any interest.” by phone 3‘519‘748‘191‘-Wd°n deadline is . expressed why you're happy." ‘Our focus is limited and we use a said Moss. W 10- ‘ The website has m viral and hun- certain bandwidth all the time.” said 'Share them around and surround For more information about "'9 Waterloo dreds of other people have joined him Moss "What we don‘t use are subcon- yourself with positive people and talk Region Museum Youth Leadership camp contact on his website at sdous uses to scan for the newbie and about podtive things because it's defi- Carol Jumis, program assistant, 3‘ www.mesmilcepidemicoom to express threats to us as an evolutionary thing. nltely 00m cjumisOregionoMatefloom their gratitude for the simple thing in "But by focusing on the positive That’s where the epidemic pan ofit their own lives you're also teaching your subconscious comes from â€" smiles are contagous' I I" . l I ' L ’ A ‘ . , l I «mint-Ho mu: 8 J . - - fi 1‘. - y m. ; f . ‘1’ v - fl 2 J . 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