It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. I simply can’t build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery, and death. – Anne Frank
I am the eternal optimist. I, too, believe that people are truly good at heart. Yes, it might be difficult as we read the news, our feeds, dashboards – it seems people are doing more bad than good. However, you must remember this – bad news sells. People love to pass on bad news. Bad news is exciting, it gets the “enraged” energy flowing. Who needs negative energy? Not me!
Today is February 17, 2014. It is Random Acts of Kindness Day! This is your chance to spread sunshine all over the place. Once all those good vibes are out there, they’re bound to come back to you.
Here are a couple of things you can do to brighten your corner of the world.
1. Say thank you.
How many times have you been in a store and customers act like the cashier doesn’t exist? They chatter on their cell phones, toss the money at the cashier and leave the store without even making eye contact with the service person? Again, bad news travels fast, but often good news moves like molasses in January. Change that. Greet your cashier or service person. Say thank you. Make eye contact. Treat people as people, not as objects.
2. Speak with Kindness
In the words of Nicky Santoro (Casino): Be f*cking nice.
Is kindness extinct? It is so rare to see people saying kind things about others. Usually it’s something negative or something to raise someone’s ire. Even much of comedy is less funny observations than straight insults. So, speak with kindness. Spit those negative words in the trash where they belong.
3. Forward an email coupon
We receive tons of offers in our email. Many of them we delete without a second glance. However, think about some who might need it. Send it on them with a note that you were thinking of them. Easy, right?
4. Let someone go in front of you
Whether it be in line, on the road or wherever, offer to let someone in front of you. It’s the small things that people appreciate.
Extend your random acts of kindness to the rest of the year and I bet the sun will shine on you.
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. –Aesop
Authors, pop over to my blog for my random act of kindness for today. It’s small, but I hope it helps.