The Kindness That Comes Back to You.
“Being nice”, there is something wonderfully simple about that. To being nice, no special talent required. Neither money, nor perfect timing. Just a small decision to make someone else's moment a little better. I was reminded recently that today is “Do Something Nice Day.” At first, I smiled, it sounded almost too obvious. We have been hearing some version of “what you sow, so shall you reap” since childhood. Be kind, and kindness comes back to you. Treat people well, and people are more likely to treat you well. Simple enough. Maybe there is something more interesting hiding inside that old idea: While giving the kindness, it potentially changes the person doing the giving. Think about the last time you held a door open, let someone go ahead of you in a queue, or you just called an old friend. You may not remember exactly what the other person said, you remember how you felt, right? A little more aware of people around you, feeling a bit more connected. That is the curious thing about relationships. We think we are constantly doing things for other people. Even so, every interaction has some effect on us. ‘Smiling’ tells your brain that you are open to the world, ‘thank-you’ reminds you that someone matters. Kind words can always make you notice the goodness that was already around you. And sometimes, the person who benefits most from an act of kindness is the person who started it. So here is my little experiment for today. Not an assignment, just something I am curious to try myself. Smile at five strangers. That's it. Five people you don't know. Don't expect anything in return. Just smile. And notice: Does the person smile back? Does someone look surprised? Does someone brighten, even for a second? And, most interestingly… How do you feel afterward? Because there is something beautiful about a smile between strangers. For a brief moment, two people who had absolutely no reason to know each other become part of each other's day. Just one tiny acknowledgment: I see you. Probably that is where relationships begin, not always with friendship, familiarity or even words, but with the simple recognition that another human being exists. I guess that's why being nice is a little selfish. In the best possible sense. When you make someone else's day slightly better, you may discover that you have made your own day better too. You thought you’re sending something out into the world, maybe some of it was coming back to you all along. Try the five smiles, don't count the reactions, judge the results. Just notice. And if someone smiles back, perhaps carry that smile with you to the next person. Until tomorrow, Bob
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