Give Something Away Everyday
By Lindsay Kenny
Here's a way to brighten your own day everyday. Give something away that costs you nothing every day for 10 days. It could be priceless to the recipient.
Do this every day for 10 days and see if you feel differently, or if something good happens to you, or if you make someone else feel better.
If you miss a day, start over with day one. When you see the improvement, it's likely you'll want to continue for another 10 days, and another 10 after that.
Here are some more examples to help inspire your own ideas about simple, totally cost-free "gifts". Below are just suggestions...and some inspiring stories. You really don't have to do all of them or even any of them.
7) Solicit advice from, or ask a question of, an older person even if you think you already know the answer (or could Google it.) It makes old people feel good to be asked for their opinion, expertise or wisdom. And you might actually learn something from it.
Here's my one of my favorite's...
8) Write a little rhyme for an interesting person in your life. There's a great memory I have from almost 25 years ago. It's about Bobby, the shoe-shine vendor in our office building. Bobby, who was always jovial and had an iridescent personality, usually sang popular tunes while working. People using his services or walking by would often join in and sing along with him for a few bars. When things were slow in his booth, Bobby played his harmonica and danced around in the lobby. He was always singing, dancing or making people happy just by being himself. So it really touched him when someone took the time to write the simple little poem for him below. Bobby was so thrilled with it that he had it framed and hung it prominently in his work station.
There once was a fellow named Bobby,
Who had an enchanting hobby.
He chased away blues,
By shining our shoes,
And danced in the building's front lobby.
For as many years as I knew him, he was still proudly showing the rhyme to people saying "This was the best tip I ever got." It was just a simple little thing, but it had a big impact on a lot of people...as did Bobby. Hey, I remember it all these years later and can barely remember what I'm wearing, unless I look down!
9) Make one unexpected call a day for 10 days (or 10 in one day,) to friends or relatives just to see how they are doing. Especially call people to who are always being asked for favors (without asking for one.) Just ask about them; what they are up to, how they're feeling, etc. Preface your conversation by saying "I know you don't have much time, so I'll just borrow a minute of it. I was just thinking about you and...." Chat for 2 minutes, ask some questions and sign off. They'll love it.
This one is my favorite since it demonstrates how life-changing a smile can be. One man's smile changed my life forever.
10) Give a big smile at someone you don't know, every day for 10 days. They may think you're nuts, and it may not always be returned, but you never know when it might change someone's day or life.
Years ago there was an "elderly man" who rode the elevator with me almost every morning (he was probably the age that I am now, yikes). He seldom said anything other than a cheerful "Good morning" or "Hello", but his smile was huge and dazzling. One day I complimented him on his beautiful smile and told him I looked forward to seeing it every day.
His face lit up and he introduced himself as Ed. He then started telling me the story behind that smile, which I'll condense. Ed told me how he had been in a serious car accident the previous year and had lost his right leg, all of his front teeth, and almost lost his life. He continued smiling while telling me his story, and instead of sounding sad or sorry for himself he was surprisingly cheerful. He went on to say "So once I got my life back, a new artificial leg and shiny bright teeth, I just haven't been able to stop smiling! I appreciate every moment of every day."
Wow, great attitude. Ed was genuinely happy that I had noticed his smile and that he could share his story with me. In turn it made me feel good. It was such a little thing, but it ended up being significant for me. We chatted a few minutes in the elevator every day after that.
Then one morning he introduced me to Beth, the lady who occupied the office next to his. She and I became friends and I later put her together with a huge account that turned her business around.
She later introduced me to Joan, who eventually introduced me to my husband-to-be, Jack. Who could have known that a comment about a smile could bring such happiness?.
Part 1 was yesterday.
Here is Lindsay Kenny's website
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