Don't you just love it when people smile at you? Everybody does because it's like a little hug. A smile says: YOU MATTER!
You can give your smile away a million times and still have it to give again tomorrow. So, why not give out more smiles?
Often people pass each other and look right into each others eyes but make no effort to acknowledge each other. Why? Because they expect the other person to smile, wave or speak first. Who made up that "Rule?"
I say: "GO FIRST!" Be the the one who initiates the first smile. The results will be astounding! just watch!
How many acts of kindness will you perform TODAY?
Here are a few ideas:
1 - Pay the toll for the driver behind you.
2 - Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather
3 - Put a coin in an expired meter
4 - Help a mother carry her baby stroller up the subway stairs, or hold a door open for her
5 - Surprise someone with a cup of coffee
6 - Let a fellow driver merge into your lane
7 - Return your shopping cart to the cart station
8 - Forgive someone a debt–and never bring it up again
9 - Throw away your trash—and someone else's—after a movie, picnic or visit to a park
10 - Share your smile with everyone you meet today!
Whenever I deal with a clerk in a department or grocery store, if they're not smiling I ask: “Where's your smile today?” At which point most will smile and I'll say something like: “That's better” or “Wow! That's a great smile.”
But if they don't smile, I'll ask: “Would you like one of mine? I have a million of them.” Then, I give them the biggest,widest, goofiest smile I can possibly muster up. That does it!
Now, you might think that's just fun or cute but the truth is; that smile could be life altering. If the clerk is not smiling as most people are taught to do when dealing with the public, it's probably because they have all sorts of negative things on their minds.....like “I hope the traffic isn't as bad on the way home as yesterday” or “Darn, that spouse of mine had better have supper on the table tonight. He/she gets home an hour before I do. There's no reason he/she can't do that.”
But once they hear the “smile” question, all of their thoughts go away. And maybe...just maybe, they're now in a little better mood for the drive home....who knows what negative thing “might” have happened on the way home diving in such a negative state.
On top of that, think of the other people in line who got a chuckle out of my “smile” thing. That moment, they too had a change of thought.....and how many times might they repeat that little fun episode to others and make them laugh?
Never underestimate the power of the tiniest act of kindness.
