A Change of Attitude

Photo by Shaun Kneemiller

A Change of Attitude

​As a society we have fallen into the pattern of "if he is nice to me, I'll be nice to him".  We need to change that attitude.  What if the other person is thinking the exact same thing?  You could have passed up a new friend, a possible sale, a potential relationship or just that warm fuzzy feeling of sharing smiles.  

What would happen if you decided to be nice first?  What if you smiled at everyone you came across?  How do you think you would be perceived?  And do you think this would help or hinder your first impressions?

We only have a short time on this earth and personally, I'd like to be remembered as a kind, caring and loving person.  When my name or image comes up in conversation or perhaps on a web search, it is my hope that the way I lived my life will  have people thinking fondly of me.  And in order to achieve this, I try to be kind every day, to everyone I meet.  Most days, I think I am successful.  I'll be the first to admit that I have my "off- days" where I would rather not have to speak to anyone...  but luckily those days are few and far between.  Lol.  (I bet you have felt the same!)

Loving behaviors and just being kind should be an automatic thing regardless of how you are treated, or who says "hello" first.  The meaning of kindness is seeing the value of every person we meet.  Sure, sometimes we have to look a little deeper, but it's there.  We just have to take the time to see it.  And I promise you, more times than not, you'll see it the moment you show kindness.  And even with those tough ones that you can't seem to get to crack a smile, I'd be willing to bet that they'll think about your kindness again at some point in the day.  Sure, they might think you're crazy, but... you may have been the only person to love on them in who knows how long.

Sometimes we don't get to see the impact of the kindness we bestow on others, but it is never wasted. 

 I had a man come up to me one afternoon in a grocery store.  I unfortunately had no recollection of who he was but he told me that I had taught his daughter in my Broadway camp one summer.  He said that she had the best time and felt so welcomed that she still talks about it to this day. (It was well over five years ago!) She was considered a "social outcast" and had no friends so even signing up for the camp was a huge step for her.  After jogging my memory, I knew who is daughter was.  She started out very shy and and tried to stay off to the side, but she was welcomed in and she was part of the family in no time!  At the time, I had no idea of the impact she took with her, I was just "doin my thing", but how happy it made my heart to hear about it several years later.

But think of what your acts of kindness could mean to strangers.  We have no idea what other people are going through in their lives, but we are all going through something.  What if your simple smile meant the world to someone else?  What if you purchased the coffee for the person that was just having the WORST morning?  What if you gave a compliment to someone who was absolutely filled with self-doubt that day?

Starting today, be the one who smiles first.  Take the initiative, be the ambassador for kindness.  Let's go for that change of attitude.  Bring kindness to others, don't wait for it to come to you.

If you haven't signed up to participate for the 30 Day Kindness Challenge as yet, click here and write your commitment statement in the comments below the blog!!  

More to read:
Put A Little Love In Your Heart- and Share It

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