About six months ago a woman from a cat rescue group brought a kitten to me. I didn't know what to expect, or if I'd even like the cat. A white, fluffy kitten was handed to me and the first think he did was purr. He, later named Jake, was happy to meet me!
Do you think there is a lesson there from Jake? When you meet someone for the first time, greet them with a genuine smile and be pleased to meet them. What can it hurt? It can only help. And you never know who you are going to meet; but do know you have from 10 to 30 seconds during which you make an impression that will last for years. Why not make it a great impression?
Be happy to meet people. Such an easy thing to do to make life a bit more simple!
There is more to this, but I wanted to get this out while it was on my mind. Stay tuned.
Showing posts with label smile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smile. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Easy Solutions - A Happy Life
I have always thought that one of the basic rules for a having a happy, fulfilled life was giving. Giving back. Giving to others. Giving away. Just giving. And, do you know there is one ridiculously simple way to give? Collectively, they have become known as Random Acts of Kindness (RAK).
What is a RAK? It can be anything! Yep, ANYTHING that makes a person's day a bit brighter, is completely unexpected, and there is no thought of anything in return. I know, anything is pretty broad, but that's the inherent beauty of a RAK - it's tailored to the situation. Some examples might be in order:
Taking out a neighbor's trash cans.
Bringing in a neighbor's trash cans.
Buying the next person-in-line's coffee at Starbucks.
Helping another carry a box if you see they are having a problem, or doing it before they have a problem.
If you walk for exercise, and know your neighbor's dog, take the dog with you.
Complete a simple repair for someone - like securing house numbers so they aren't falling.
Reaching for something in the store when you see someone having a challenge getting it.
Begin to get the idea? The list of possibilities is endless! Just take a look around. Opportunities are everywhere. A RAK is the ultimate way to customize helping another in some small unexpected way. As a result their day will be better - and so will your's.
A few more RAK's in the world and it would be a better place!
I would love to learn what RAK you might have done today.
"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." John Ruskin
What is a RAK? It can be anything! Yep, ANYTHING that makes a person's day a bit brighter, is completely unexpected, and there is no thought of anything in return. I know, anything is pretty broad, but that's the inherent beauty of a RAK - it's tailored to the situation. Some examples might be in order:
Taking out a neighbor's trash cans.
Bringing in a neighbor's trash cans.
Buying the next person-in-line's coffee at Starbucks.
Helping another carry a box if you see they are having a problem, or doing it before they have a problem.
If you walk for exercise, and know your neighbor's dog, take the dog with you.
Complete a simple repair for someone - like securing house numbers so they aren't falling.
Reaching for something in the store when you see someone having a challenge getting it.
Begin to get the idea? The list of possibilities is endless! Just take a look around. Opportunities are everywhere. A RAK is the ultimate way to customize helping another in some small unexpected way. As a result their day will be better - and so will your's.
A few more RAK's in the world and it would be a better place!
I would love to learn what RAK you might have done today.
"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." John Ruskin
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The First Post
As
I was getting ready to write this first entry so many ideas went
through my mind. I had to choose carefully. I had to let you know the
easiest way to have a better life. It had to be a biggie. It had to be
profound.
And I came up with so many ideas - but none of them were simple enough. This was really a case of the nerves!
Then, at about 2:00 this morning it hit me. The single most important easy solution for a better life is....is the suspense killing you? A drum roll, if you please...The curtains part to reveal...
SMILE.
That’s it. Just smile and be pleasant. There’s no real trick to it. Just turn the ends of your mouth up. That’s all it takes. Smile.
I began thinking about the successful people I know. Now, I am not just counting those who have made a lot of money; I am counting those who are leading happy lives...or, are happy in their life. And, you know what? They all had one thing in common - they smile at others.
It is so easy...so simple. Just smile at others and your life will be better.
Oh, I can hear you, “But, Phil, you don’t know my life...You don’t know the bad things that have happened...the tragedies...” And you know what? You’re right, I don’t know what has happened to you. But I do know you have a choice: either wallow in it or wake up and greet the day with a smile. It’s really your choice.
Look, if you start smiling at others, you will brighten their day - that is just a fact since there aren’t many smilers out there.
“But, I don’t care if I brighten their day.”
Let me tell you about a bit of magic - yes, magic. If you start to smile at others - at the person in Starbucks, the grocery store, McDonalds...wherever you are, you will find that your day will be better. String together a few days, and pretty soon you are at a week. Put together a few weeks and you are at a month. And, wait for it, put together a few months of smiling and you will be at a year.
Now, I am not saying you have to smile at everyone. That is only for experienced smilers and I would not expect that from folks who are just starting. No, just start by smiling at three people; just three. Don’t over do it on the first day. Watch their reactions. Most of them will smile right back at you. It’s amazing. Your one smile developed into two smiles. If you really want to go big, smile at five people a day...but that can get to be too much smiling if you haven’t done much before.
I know, I kow. I am sounding a bit corny, but you will find if you just smile at three people a day for a week, your life will be better. It’s the easiest way to make your life better.
“If you are reading this...Congratulations, you’re alive. If that’s not something to smile about, then I don’t know what is.” Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head.
“You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you but smile.” Charlie Chaplin
And I came up with so many ideas - but none of them were simple enough. This was really a case of the nerves!
Then, at about 2:00 this morning it hit me. The single most important easy solution for a better life is....is the suspense killing you? A drum roll, if you please...The curtains part to reveal...
SMILE.
That’s it. Just smile and be pleasant. There’s no real trick to it. Just turn the ends of your mouth up. That’s all it takes. Smile.
I began thinking about the successful people I know. Now, I am not just counting those who have made a lot of money; I am counting those who are leading happy lives...or, are happy in their life. And, you know what? They all had one thing in common - they smile at others.
It is so easy...so simple. Just smile at others and your life will be better.
Oh, I can hear you, “But, Phil, you don’t know my life...You don’t know the bad things that have happened...the tragedies...” And you know what? You’re right, I don’t know what has happened to you. But I do know you have a choice: either wallow in it or wake up and greet the day with a smile. It’s really your choice.
Look, if you start smiling at others, you will brighten their day - that is just a fact since there aren’t many smilers out there.
“But, I don’t care if I brighten their day.”
Let me tell you about a bit of magic - yes, magic. If you start to smile at others - at the person in Starbucks, the grocery store, McDonalds...wherever you are, you will find that your day will be better. String together a few days, and pretty soon you are at a week. Put together a few weeks and you are at a month. And, wait for it, put together a few months of smiling and you will be at a year.
Now, I am not saying you have to smile at everyone. That is only for experienced smilers and I would not expect that from folks who are just starting. No, just start by smiling at three people; just three. Don’t over do it on the first day. Watch their reactions. Most of them will smile right back at you. It’s amazing. Your one smile developed into two smiles. If you really want to go big, smile at five people a day...but that can get to be too much smiling if you haven’t done much before.
I know, I kow. I am sounding a bit corny, but you will find if you just smile at three people a day for a week, your life will be better. It’s the easiest way to make your life better.
“If you are reading this...Congratulations, you’re alive. If that’s not something to smile about, then I don’t know what is.” Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head.
“You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you but smile.” Charlie Chaplin
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