If you wanted to, you could make every interaction a positive one. You can make multiple people’s days with a simple gesture, word or smile. You don’t have to like people to do this. You need only try. Would you do it for a day? How many doors could you hold open? Waves could you give? “Have a nice day’s” could be said?
What would it take of you to make small gestures to strangers? Why wouldn’t you do this? I get it. Some people will look at you like your a crazy person, or think you want something, but I bet if you do it for a day, your day and countless other people’s days will be a little bit better.
If a day left you a little better. How much would a week help? Would an extra “Hey, how are you today?” a few times a day to a gas station attendant or “good morning” to anyone you came across walking in and out of a building make your week more positive? Could it make you more productive?
As outward as I may be. I’m also perceived as pretty intense, unapproachable and some would go so far as to say I’m an asshole. But not the lady working the entrance gate at the track meet who I told “hey thanks, you’re doing a great job!” Or the kid at the coffee shop who was drowning in business on his training shift who I told “hey man, take your time. Your doing fine.”
I’m not asking you to learn everyone’s life story. I’m asking you to take a day and add this to your day. I once gave 75 high fives on a run. Another day I tried to give high fives to everyone I made eye contact with in a day. Want to know what happened? Smiles. A bunch of returned high fives and one guy who said “Awe hell no!” Can’t won them all.
If you go to church there’s a moment in a lot of different services where you wish peace to your fellows churchgoers and a short handshake and a good morning. I say take this to the streets. Isn’t that what the church is trying to tell you anyway.
We are all a hot judgey mess for the most part. We look at people and make snap judgments all day. I know I do. If my last name weren’t Fellows, it would be Judgerson. I’m not going to change that overnight. What I can do is make a small effort everyday to be kind to strangers and you can too.
What does it cost you? A chance at making someone’s day? 1 min of effort out of your 1440?
Let me know how it goes.
#hugsandhi5s
