I believe that kindness and compassion are qualities in a person that can have so much impact on that person's life, as well as other's lives. There are little things you can do on a daily basis to make people appreciate the people and world around them, which will in turn grant the same effect on your feelings and views. You never know how spreading your kindness will affect another person and what your gesture(s) will do to improve and change their life and their outlook on their way of living. I imagine it like a domino effect, where your positiveness and kindness will help another person take on and emote the same feelings and attitude and will cause another person that they meet to take on that altruistic mindset, and so on. With so much negativity and hatred in the world already, it's very vital and SO incredibly meaningful to combat it and rise above it with thoughtfulness, respect, and love. So, here are some super easy ways to take that extra step and use your human super powers to make someone's day, and simultaneously your own as well!

1. Smile! But not in a creepy way...and not all the time...just find the perfect time and place to smile and show others you appreciate their presence in this world. It'll brighten up their day and hopefully make them more happy and smiley throughout their own day. There's something special about witnessing someone truly smile and portray pure happiness; it's even more special when you're the reason behind that smile :)

2. Offer to help family members or friends with errands or chores if you know they have a lot on their plate. I guarantee they'll be BEYOND thankful and will definitely remember that next time you want Starbucks...totally kidding, but they will be super grateful and know that they have you as a person they can count on, which is honestly a way better deal than free Starbucks.

3. If you have siblings, take them out somewhere and just hang out and catch up! Life is usually so hectic so it's nice to take time out of everyone's busy schedules to relax and have fun with the fam bam. I recommend either frozen yogurt or chipotle; memorable conversations and laughs will always occur where there is good food and dessert.

4. Make a surprise dinner for your family! Sometimes it can be a little bit tiring for parents having to make nice home-cooked meals during the week after a long day of work, so taking over that activity and letting them rest will definitely let them know how much you appreciate them and all of the effort they put into the family. Plus you might find out how much you actually love to cook and discover a new passion! A twist on this is that you can also make dinner and deliver it to a neighbor or a friend as a nice treat!

5. Last but not least, you can send a text, e-mail, or give a call to the people that mean the most to you and tell them exactly how important they are to you. Specify how they've changed your life for the better and just how grateful you are for their continued positive influence. That can be such a beautiful start to their day or a loving good night that they will truly keep in mind and cherish forever. Sometimes people want and need to know how much they mean to others, they want to believe that they are worth a lot to those they care so much about. So, when that is validated and they are reminded of this fact, their self-love and love and admiration towards others gets a major boost :)

-N