Have you ever pulled up to a Starbucks only to be told your drink has been paid for? Have you ever had someone hold a door open for you, smile and tell you to have a good day? Have you ever sneezed in public and had a complete stranger turn around and say, “bless you!”? If you have, then you know the ways to brighten someones day already, because your days have been brightened. Brightening someones day can do wonders not only for them, but to how your day goes as well.
Pay It Forward: It doesn’t have to be at Starbucks, although that is very common. In fact, I try to do it once a week. Sure those times where the person behind me has a $30 order aren’t as fun, but I know I can afford it, so no matter what I am happy to do it. It can also be done at a local coffee shop, donut shop, restaurant, etc. Pick a random person and make their day! I promise the rest of your day will be better.
Smile and Say Hi: Recently I was at Whole Foods picking up some things for dinner that night. It was a weekday, and the store was pretty crowded for 10 AM. I was walking to grab the few thing I needed, and noticed a lot of people working really hard. I smiled at each of them, said hi and said “I hope you have a great day.” I saw smile after smile grow on their faces, and every time someone smiled, I smiled. When I got to checkout the guy in front of me let me go in front of him for no reason at all. He was being nice. It was honestly one of the best mornings I had in a while.
Use Your Manners: Growing up, “please” “thank you” “bless you” (when someone sneezes) and holding doors open were things that were ingrained in me. It irks me when people do not do the same. I was walking into a store the other day and a woman walking behind me sneezed. I turned around and said, “bless you.” She seemed so surprised. She told me that no one ever does that and that it really bothers her that people lack manners. We talked for a bit about that and about how she’s raising her kids to do things like that. It was such a wonderful encounter.
Send a gift or note to a friend/family member for no reason: Snail mail is such a forgotten art form. I know that days where I have gotten cards or sweet packages from friends, or when I was away in college and my mom would send me care packages were some of the best and brightest days. It doesn’t have to be their birthday, or because something good or bad happened. It can be for no reason. Just sit down and write a sweet note to a friend or to your aunt or cousin. Tell them how much they mean to you. They will feel beyond loved and appreciated.
These are just a few ways to brighten someones day, but honestly I can think of hundreds. I challenge you to go a week and find something to do daily to brighten someone else’s day. It doesn’t have to cost money or take a ton of time. But try it and see how you feel!
awesome ideas, some very easy to complete. Love the one about using manners and saying hi. Two of the easiest and most human thing we can do
come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
I worked at Starbucks for 4 years and it was so fun when people would pay for the person behind them in the drive through! Every-time it happened, all of the baristas would get involved and count how many cars it would last for. It was so fun to see the surprise on the customer’s face when we told them their order was paid for 🙂 It sparks so much joy in everyone involved!
I’ve paid for someone at Starbucks before. I was working two jobs then, and money was tight (my soy chai was a monthly occasion during my period), but it was a small thing I could do just once.
Smiling at people really does make such a difference. Many years ago, I was grocery-shopping, and I did that awkward dance with my cart and another customer with his cart. I smiled broadly at him as we figured out how to pass each other. I came across him again about 20 minutes later, and he stopped me to thank me for smiling at him. He’d had a long day and that brightened his mood.
Smiling is 100% FREE. All it takes is an attitude of kindness. It’s such a little thing to do, but it really can help other people.
I was lucky enough to have someone pay for my McDonalds breakfast by someone ahead of me. It’s hard to describe the feeling it gives you. It’s like getting an unexpected present. I made sure to pay it forward and pay for someone’s lunch that day, that I knew was having money struggles. I see this more and more and love that so many people are paying it forward! Thanks for sharing.
Now that each dollar is a struggle I cannot pay it forward and never buy coffee or anything else but I do smile and use good manners always in public., I also let all elderly people go ahead of me and help,them as often as possible. They light up when you get a cart for them or help them to their car. I also give water to the homeless I see. As I cannot give money.
Today I was on the receiving end of one of those day brightening gestures. My daughter had a febrile seizure yesterday, so since we got home from ER yesterday we’ve had the following encouragements: lots of people letting us know they’re praying for us, one friend and family bringing dinner, a friend’s parents bringing us the medicine we needed this morning when I didn’t have the car and unexpectedly finished off our IBprofin supply.
I am so overwhelmed by how gracious everyone has been.
We truly need more posts like than this than the boring old makeup product reviews, “mommy this and mommy that” blog posts…. Anyone and everyone can and should relate to this! So often we get caught up in ourselves and our lives that we forget that one of our biggest purposes in life is to support snd care for others! Thanks for inspiring me today 🙂
I am such a fan of the small gift. I love, love, love dropping off little presents at my friends’ homes (sometimes anonymously) so they have a little treat when they come home from work. 🙂
It’s amazing how these little things can brighten a day. It’s so tempting to just walk past strangers with our head down and not interact, but how silly is that when something like a simple, “Hi” could brighten someone’s day. Another thing that brightens my day is that when someone I don’t know very well uses my name in conversation. It seems a lot more personal and I feel special because they remembered my name.
I once paid for the person behind me in the drive through at Starbucks because I could hear a baby crying its eyes out. I on the other hand had my 9month old in the back playing with her feet and laughing. I knew what those days of endless fussing felt like, and was so happy to do something for that mommy. I was actually amazed at how much more cheerful I was all day!
What a perfect post for #100HappyDays! Thank you for linking up! One day someone paid for my Starbucks in the drive through. I couldn’t believe how it blessed me, I even got choked up! I paid it forward to the person behind me. I also tried paying it forward in the Kaiser Pharmacy Line by paying for the person behind me. I figured it was a great place to make someone happy, right? That didn’t work out so well, lol. I guess they have a policy where they can’t accept money and they called back for a manager…and I was so embarrassed because I was trying to be anonymous and discreet lol. I hope you come link up with us again!
Wonderful post, Neely! I love the message you’ve shared here, beautiful friend! At my church we call it “Random Acts Of Kindness”. Thanks so much for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend, Love! GOD bless you! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this with the 100 Happy Days linkup party! These are great ideas. 🙂 Smiling is such a seemingly small thing, but so often it speaks volumes of encouragement to someone in need. And goodness, snail mail is one of my favorite things. Thanks for the encouragement to send some snail mail this week! 😉
I love this list! It is so true that a smile can make someone’s day! My goal for the holiday season (and really all the time) is to be more cognizant of those around me and try to be more kind – including holding the door open or smiling at a stranger. I know how much these little gestures can brighten my day for a moment and I would like to spread that.
Hi! I really like this, as well as all the others blogs. And I noticed you said you could thing many more ways, so if you don’t mind would be amazing if you do more ways to bright someone’s day, this one is amazing though, It just would be amazing to have more. Thanks for writting this XOXO
love love love snail mail! All of these are so true, great reminder!
I love this! Would you consider linking with us at 100 Happy Days? This would be perfect! http://www.akreativewhim.com/100-happy-days-link-party-4/
I love this! Will you consider linking up with us at 100 Happy Days??? http://www.akreativewhim.com/100-happy-days-link-party-4/
LOVE these! They are all so great 🙂 I love doing little things to brighten someone’s day esp when it involves coffee 😉
awesome ideas, some very easy to complete. Love the one about using manners and saying hi. Two of the easiest and most human thing we can do
come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
I worked at Starbucks for 4 years and it was so fun when people would pay for the person behind them in the drive through! Every-time it happened, all of the baristas would get involved and count how many cars it would last for. It was so fun to see the surprise on the customer’s face when we told them their order was paid for 🙂 It sparks so much joy in everyone involved!
I’ve paid for someone at Starbucks before. I was working two jobs then, and money was tight (my soy chai was a monthly occasion during my period), but it was a small thing I could do just once.
Smiling at people really does make such a difference. Many years ago, I was grocery-shopping, and I did that awkward dance with my cart and another customer with his cart. I smiled broadly at him as we figured out how to pass each other. I came across him again about 20 minutes later, and he stopped me to thank me for smiling at him. He’d had a long day and that brightened his mood.
Smiling is 100% FREE. All it takes is an attitude of kindness. It’s such a little thing to do, but it really can help other people.
I was lucky enough to have someone pay for my McDonalds breakfast by someone ahead of me. It’s hard to describe the feeling it gives you. It’s like getting an unexpected present. I made sure to pay it forward and pay for someone’s lunch that day, that I knew was having money struggles. I see this more and more and love that so many people are paying it forward! Thanks for sharing.
Now that each dollar is a struggle I cannot pay it forward and never buy coffee or anything else but I do smile and use good manners always in public., I also let all elderly people go ahead of me and help,them as often as possible. They light up when you get a cart for them or help them to their car. I also give water to the homeless I see. As I cannot give money.
Today I was on the receiving end of one of those day brightening gestures. My daughter had a febrile seizure yesterday, so since we got home from ER yesterday we’ve had the following encouragements: lots of people letting us know they’re praying for us, one friend and family bringing dinner, a friend’s parents bringing us the medicine we needed this morning when I didn’t have the car and unexpectedly finished off our IBprofin supply.
I am so overwhelmed by how gracious everyone has been.
We truly need more posts like than this than the boring old makeup product reviews, “mommy this and mommy that” blog posts…. Anyone and everyone can and should relate to this! So often we get caught up in ourselves and our lives that we forget that one of our biggest purposes in life is to support snd care for others! Thanks for inspiring me today 🙂
I am such a fan of the small gift. I love, love, love dropping off little presents at my friends’ homes (sometimes anonymously) so they have a little treat when they come home from work. 🙂
It’s amazing how these little things can brighten a day. It’s so tempting to just walk past strangers with our head down and not interact, but how silly is that when something like a simple, “Hi” could brighten someone’s day. Another thing that brightens my day is that when someone I don’t know very well uses my name in conversation. It seems a lot more personal and I feel special because they remembered my name.
I once paid for the person behind me in the drive through at Starbucks because I could hear a baby crying its eyes out. I on the other hand had my 9month old in the back playing with her feet and laughing. I knew what those days of endless fussing felt like, and was so happy to do something for that mommy. I was actually amazed at how much more cheerful I was all day!
What a perfect post for #100HappyDays! Thank you for linking up! One day someone paid for my Starbucks in the drive through. I couldn’t believe how it blessed me, I even got choked up! I paid it forward to the person behind me. I also tried paying it forward in the Kaiser Pharmacy Line by paying for the person behind me. I figured it was a great place to make someone happy, right? That didn’t work out so well, lol. I guess they have a policy where they can’t accept money and they called back for a manager…and I was so embarrassed because I was trying to be anonymous and discreet lol. I hope you come link up with us again!
Wonderful post, Neely! I love the message you’ve shared here, beautiful friend! At my church we call it “Random Acts Of Kindness”. Thanks so much for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend, Love! GOD bless you! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this with the 100 Happy Days linkup party! These are great ideas. 🙂 Smiling is such a seemingly small thing, but so often it speaks volumes of encouragement to someone in need. And goodness, snail mail is one of my favorite things. Thanks for the encouragement to send some snail mail this week! 😉
Love these. It’s just the smallest gestures that can really make someone’s day. Thank you for the reminder.
Snail mail is the absolute best. Always.
I love this list! It is so true that a smile can make someone’s day! My goal for the holiday season (and really all the time) is to be more cognizant of those around me and try to be more kind – including holding the door open or smiling at a stranger. I know how much these little gestures can brighten my day for a moment and I would like to spread that.
Hi! I really like this, as well as all the others blogs. And I noticed you said you could thing many more ways, so if you don’t mind would be amazing if you do more ways to bright someone’s day, this one is amazing though, It just would be amazing to have more. Thanks for writting this XOXO