Everywhere we look, there is negativity. It spreads like cancer, faster than a wildfire, and suffocates our society. Somehow, we seem to thrive on it. Domestic violence, child abuse, corruption, hate crimes – the list never seems to end, and each day seems to be worse than the day prior. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s quite naïve of me to think that I can stop the bad from happening. Trust m
e; I don’t believe I can. Not even for a second. What I do believe, however, is that I can still make a difference. It’s not too late. Each day, I strive to make someone laugh. Each day, I strive to leave a positive impact on someone, even if just for a second. You never know what a small act of kindness can do for someone. So hear me out. What if my one simple act of kindness created a ripple effect, and each person that was left with a positive imprint continued to pay it forward in some fashion? It’s not too hard to imagine that if I successfully touched one person’s life today, that they in turn touched another’s, and so forth. And if I helped two people? Well, we all have seen how these exponential equations have worked. I call it the Kindness Contagion, and I challenge EACH of you reading this to do something kind for another person every day for 30 days. Circle back and post what you did here on the Kindness Contagion page (still under construction!). Post positive news articles, inspiring quotes, and random ideas that can bring a smile to someone’s face. ** Offensive/Inappropriate materials will be removed without warning. **
Some ideas to chew on if you’re having trouble:
• Pay for the car behind you in the drive-thru lane
• Bring an extra sandwich to work and give it to the homeless person on the corner
• Give an encouraging word
• Donate your old toys or books
• Help someone carrying their groceries
• Smile and acknowledge the people you pass in the office
• Forgive someone you’ve held a grudge against. Don’t worry if they accept it or not. But reach out and forgive. Life is too short!!
• Remind your family you love them
See, this is the great thing about kindness. It doesn’t come with a price tag. You don’t have to spend a fortune to give it to someone. It can be something huge, or something seemingly insignificant to you. But it’s still something kind, and something positive, shedding light in a darkening world. This world still has so much to offer everyone, so much beauty, and we can still make it an even better place for future generations to come. Each and every one of us can still make a difference. Remember, ““To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
Smiles are contagious. You can do this.
