On the Receiving End

   

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbeem/6854174252/">wbeem</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>

      Earlier this week I was feeling on the glum side. Chalk it up to a trip to DC and being faced with throngs of rude, oblivious, tourists (Yeah, I don't do well with crowds), listening to several horror stories about malicious behavior, and watching part of the most recent Hunger Games movies. I was convinced that everyone on the planet was completely self absorbed. This is not my normal state of mind. I am totally a glass half full kinda gal, and it bothered me. Thankfully the very next day, I was on the receiving end of several acts of kindness from random strangers, a free admission to the indoor playground, a fellow mom who gave my son her Frosty card at Wendy's when they were out of the boy kid's meal toys, and an awesome waitress who made my family's fine dining experience truly special. I like to believe that what happened was an answer to prayer. My prayer to restore my hope for the world. Whether it was or not, it did the trick. So for all of you doing acts of kindness who wonder if they make a difference I will tell you they do! If each small acts in some way can restore someone else's hope it's worth every bit.

All it Takes is a Smile

     Let's begin by thinking small.  When we think about making the world a better place we can become overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude of what lies before us, but do not be discouraged.  The smallest display of kindness can do more than we could ever imagine.  It may not brighten an entire day, but it will surely brighten the moment.  The simple act of smiling at another person can do wonders, not just for the person receiving the gesture but for you as well.  A smile can sometimes seem difficult to manage but I have found that a forced smile will often become genuine when one is received in return.  My favorite smiles are the unexpected ones though.  When you smile at someone who you are fairly certain will not smile back, but then they blow you away with the most beautiful smile, as if they were just waiting for someone to share with.  A smile will probably not move any mountains but it could be the beginning of something extraordinary.


photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abhiomkar/4520333403/">abhiomkar</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>