The world we live in is one where sometimes it is hard to believe there is more love than hate. Recent events rooted in hate such as the Manchester bombing and the London Bridge attack hinder our ability to see the love around us. It is in times like these that we must remember that love is what we make of it, but hate is what it makes of us. Although we do not have the ability to prevent others from committing acts of hate, we do have the ability to spread our love and make sure it outweighs the hate. Spreading love can be done through simple everyday things we do not even think about, and here a just a few.
1. Pay it Forward
Imagine walking into a coffee shop, about to pay for your drink, and the cashier tells you the person before you left enough money to cover the price of your drink. This would no doubt brighten up your morning and make you a little happier that day. Now, imagine being able to give the same feeling to someone else, and how easily you would be able to make them feel better going into the day they have ahead.
2. Hold the Door Open for Someone
Sometimes the smallest gestures are the ones that mean the most to people. This may seem like a no-brainer because most people are taught to always hold the door for others, yet so many people fail to do so. It’s always nice when you’re going through a door behind someone and they hold the door for you, even if you aren’t directly behind them. This is an easy way to send good vibes to someone and is almost completely effortless.
3. Leave a Penny Face Up
This one may seem a little odd, but “Find a penny pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck” is a superstition that many people believe in. I will go out of my way to pick up a penny that is face up anytime I see one. Even if it is just a superstition, believing you are going to have a good day will inevitably lead you to a good day. Leaving a penny for someone else to find is an easy way to brighten up someone’s day.
4. Leave Post-It-Notes with Kind Messages in Public Places
It takes about fifteen seconds to write “You Look Nice Today” on a post-it, and about five more seconds to leave it for someone else to find. This small gesture has the ability to give someone the pick-me-up they may need on a bad day. Even though these kind words are coming from an anonymous stranger, it is an easy way to put a smile on someone’s face and help them feel loved that day.
5. Compliment Someone
We’ve all been in a store or out to dinner at a restaurant and thought to ourselves, “Wow, I really like that woman’s shoes!” or something similar. However, rarely do we actually compliment whatever it is about this person we like. There is no harm in going up to someone and giving them a compliment. Although at first, this may seem a little odd, a compliment is not going to upset anyone, only make them a little happier.
6. Say Please and Thank You
Again, this is something that seems so obvious, but so many people fail to do so. As someone who has worked in multiple jobs involving interaction with customers, it is always a pleasant surprise when someone actually says please and thank you. These simple phrases make people feel as if they are appreciated, and their time actually means something to you.
7. Smile
Perhaps the easiest out of all the things on this list is to smile. A smile takes little-to-no effort and is a great way to improve someone’s day. It is proven that smiling puts you in a better mood, so not only are you improving your own mood but helping someone else feel better too.
Although we are not able to eliminate hate from our world entirely, we can make sure that the love we spread overpowers the hate. Through these few simple things we can do every day, we have the ability to ensure love is out there and that maybe, it will one day be able to eradicate hate completely.
