With life being as busy and fast-paced as it is, it is easy to forget about those around us. Here are five ways to make a difference in a stranger’s day, whether it be your post man, the waitress or waiter who served you, a local volunteer for a homeless shelter, a customer service personnel, a neighbor, or someone else.
In most cases, none of these take more than a couple seconds or minutes out of your day, so no matter how busy you are, everyone can (and should!) do it.
#1 – Show your appreciation for the little things.
People do nice things for us every day, and yet it often goes unnoticed by us. Identify the little things that people do for you (excellent customer service, holding the door open for you, taking an interest in your day, etc.) and take time out of your busy day to say thank you. Everyone appreciates being appreciated.
#2 – Treat everyone with respect.
This one should be a given, and yet it never ceases to amaze me how often lacking it is in today’s society. Some may say, “but you need to work to gain my respect” and that’s fine, but realize that there is a difference between respecting someone and treating them with respect: You don’t need to be in awe of the person and what they’ve done or do (which is often the case with people we respect), but rather, treating someone with respect is matter of common courtesy.
This plays into the golden rule: Treat others like you would like to be treated (Matt. 7:12). At the end of the day, none of us are immortal – we’re flesh and blood, and we all look the same (give or take) on the inside. Treat others the same way you want to be treated. If you want to be treated like a king or queen, treat others like that first.
#3 – Take time to do the little things.
Hold the door open for the person behind you, even if it means breaking your brisk walk. When someone asks you how you’re doing, reply with an honest answer (not just “fine” or “good”) and return the favor. Say please and thank you. Expect nothing from those who have no obligation to you and be pleasantly impressed when they deliver.
It is often the smallest things that make the biggest difference. You never know what kind of impact your positive words or grateful actions may have on someone, even if it doesn’t seem as if they really appreciate it.
#4 – Recognize their efforts.
When you see an overstressed waitress or waiter vigilantly coping with a strenuous workload, acknowledge their effort; a simple: “Thank you. I know you’ve got a lot of tables and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your great service.” is more than suffice. If you’re shy, writing it on their copy of the final bill will work too.
Recognizing the efforts of others doesn’t end with those working in customer service. You can recognize your bus driver, your mail man, your local police department, volunteers in community service, local churches who do community outreach, etc. If you’re really feeling up to you, you could even write a thank you note and drop it in the mail – you don’t even need to sign your name.
#5 – Just smile.
Smiling at someone who is having a bad day can often mean all the difference; It throws them off guard and often makes minute changes in their disposition. If they smile back, you can safely assume you have made a change in the mood – It is nearly impossible to be angry or sad when you’re smiling. (Don’t believe me? Put a grin on your face and try to get angry at someone!)
Even for those who aren’t having a bad day, a simple smile from a stranger can reinforce a positive mood. And remember: nearly everyone appreciates a genuine smile, even if they don’t return it.
