States across the U.S. have lifted or are about to lift their mask mandates. But not everyone's smiling about it. As a recent article from NBC tells it, many people are finding they've become attached to their masks, and for more reasons than only fear of catching Covid. Those reasons include enjoying a makeup-free existence, protection from other illnesses such as cold or flu, and the ability to hide emotions, ranging from contempt to a forced smile.  

Though the reasons people cite in the article for holding onto their masks differ, the effect can be the same: masks can contribute to keeping us isolated from each other. For singles, that can make meeting a romantic interest in more organic ways, including at the grocery store, on the train, and at the mall, for example, problematic. It can also become an excuse for why some singles say they've stopped searching for a person they'd like to date; according to them, everything they do appears to be in vain.  

But maybe it's a fear of being vulnerable, not to Covid but heartbreak, that's holding some people back. Others may simply have become set in their ways as a result of pandemic life. However, isolation is not our natural state. Humans, by nature, are social creatures.   

For the past 15 months or so, we've lived without the luxury of sharing a passing glance, an eye roll, and, of course, a smile. We've lived without the pressure of having to be "on" in front of other people — a stranger, a person we've recently met, or a good friend or relative.  

Our masks, apart from protecting us from Covid, saved us from having our feelings hurt. They kept us from feeling ignored or rejected. That brought a sense of relief for many of us because it's never fun to have others treat us as if we don't matter.  

At the same time, the masks that protected us also deprived us of the high we feel whenever we make a connection. More than any other facial expression, those connections start with a smile. And smiling is good for us.  

According to one study from the University of Kansas, smiling helps to relieve stress. Smiling has also been linked to lower blood pressure and a longer life span. Smiling likewise makes the people around you feel better, putting others besides yourself at ease. 

 But, by far, the best part about smiling is that smiles are contagious. And after the experience we just had, those are something we should be happy to spread around.