4 Small
Ways to Be an Even More Wonderful Human, Instantly
When I got home the other day, I found an envelope waiting for me:
It wasn't a bill, it wasn't a promo, and it wasn't in handwriting I recognize
(so not you, Mum). It gave me a little thrill of delight in the elevator, as I
thought, Who's sent me this lovely red envelope with gold stars on the
back?
Someone must really dig me!
I opened it up, and it was a note from a friend of mine, Petra,
congratulating me on the recent release of my book and wishing me success and
sales. It was totally unexpected and completely delightful. I have a twinge of
warmth when thinking of Petra, even writing about her now. And I know this
thoughtful, small act of hers contributes to that.
In a busy world where everyone is too rushed for everything, here
are some small ways that you can be a more awesome human:
1.
Rediscover snail mail.
And not just for life's big events. Like the unexpected congrats
card I got in the mail, consider smaller occasions you can stick a stamp on and
send love toward. Maybe someone lost their dog and you want to express your
condolences. Perhaps a friend is going through a divorce and you want to tell
her you have her back. Maybe a coworker did something brave and you want to show
appreciation or thanks.
In 2018, a written word goes a looong way.
2. Smile
and dial.
When was the last time you called someone to wish them a happy
birthday, to get well, or to say thank you? Texts are great, yes—because all
communication is meaningful. But when someone picks up the phone, you hear
their voice and can share a laugh (or even a cry) together, and well… it beats
a LOL and teary-face emoji any day of the week.
3. Ask
someone their goals + give a little somethin'.
Asking someone about their goals for the year is a very generous
act. This kind of question goes beyond surface conversation and leads you to
really get to know a person. Ask without an agenda—out of curiosity. And to be
a real superhuman, give them something that might them help: a book, a
connection, even just a few words of encouragement. We all don't do this
enough.
If someone doesn't know their goals, ask about their passion: The
answer might surprise you. I mean, let me ask… what's yours?
4. Share
your blessings.
I've never liked the expression "give back." What does
that mean, exactly? Who should you be giving back to? What have you (or they)
taken?
I prefer to just give. Or even better, share. I
made a commitment earlier this year to give a little money every month to
charity: water after learning that diseases from dirty water kill more people
every year than all forms of violence, including war.
Plenty of other small acts of kindness go a long way too, like
smiling at somebody in the hallway, offering a sincere compliment to your
spouse, or praising someone publically (like in a meeting at the office or an
open comment on Facebook).
I remind myself often of something that Anne Frank wrote:
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting
to improve the world." The power's all ours. In the present.
Wonderful indeed.
SUSIE MOORE
https://greatist.com/live/be-a-wonderful-human?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story1_title&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter_2018-03-02_testB_20160817
No comments:
Post a Comment