I know it's usually "acts of random kindness" but I've decided to do my own version .... smiling.
Smiling is a win-win activity - when I smile it fills my body with 'feel good' hormones, when someone receives that smile they also get the feel good feeling.
I practice this on my bike ride with my dog Muffet in the park. (I ride the bike she runs behind me.)
It's first thing in the morning and I come across a lot of people who seem to be not in the mood for smiling. I smile anyway - because it does me good. It's amazing how many of them smile back - I get a double dose!
This starts my day with other wins ....
I meet my need for connection, I now have an assortment of acquaintances on my bike ride we exchange smiles and "good mornings" and some of them I've made friends with . I started a Book Club with one of them.
I meet my need for meaning and purpose - my acts of random smiling is a devotional practice that is part of my life intention to affect social change.
Apart from anything else it's good fun ......
Experiment with random smiling today and I bet you'll be really surprised with how successful it is.
Gilli Gladman