If anyone knows me, I seem to come across as a happy, smiley, bubbly person. I like to think I am, anyway.

I have no qualms about complimenting a stranger’s shoes. I’m happy to hold the door for you (please don’t feel like you need to run for it if you’re far away!). I’m fine with doing extra things for people, regardless of reward, because it’s not about what others can do for me.

And honestly, it’s not that hard to do any of this.

Unless you are completely surrounded by people you absolutely despise, you can find genuinely nice things to say to people, and it will make their day.

Even if you just like the color of their dress, telling someone that, and watching their face light up, it’s one of the coolest things in the world.

Unless you’re already running really late, hold the door for the person behind you! You lose 15 seconds of travel time, at most. Don’t tell me it’s not worth it, because it is.

Share the love you have! Do you love the ice cream selection they had at lunch today? Tell your friends, so they can indulge at dinner.

Does the person sitting next to you in choir have the loveliest voice? Tell them. Be a helping hand to anyone that asks.

When I was in a show when I was younger, the director announced that the costumer needed help moving some things and that the boys should go help her. Well, I decided that I was going to help too, all 5 feet and 100 pounds of me.

Flash forward years later, and we’re still super close. She likes to bring up that story to other people now, to show them a glimpse of who I am. At the time, volunteering seemed second nature to me. It still is.

When I was growing up, both of my parents were actively volunteering their time to help other people. My mom planned the elementary school class parties and organized the theatre banquets.

My dad fixes cars for people and doesn’t charge for labor. He’s an Eagle Scout, too, so he volunteered with the Cub Scouts even after my little brother moved up in the ranks. We’re a family that’s volunteer-oriented, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Granted, I have my days. I’m not always that ray of sunshine that people seem to think I am. And there are days where I say things that don’t come across the way I want them to, which can make for an awkward stop mid-conversation.

We all have our days. But it’s important to make sure that we have more good days than bad ones.

Being a nice person doesn’t make you inherently better than anyone. While it changes your perspective and the perspective of those around you, nice people aren’t inherently better.

But if you’re trying to spread a little sunshine in the world, know that you’re not alone. The sunshiny people of the world are going to be the ones to change it.

It’s not actually that hard to be a nice person. Just treat others with kindness, smile, and see where the sunshine takes you!