So this week I would like to write my article as a proposal. Veering from my usually light-hearted and funny (attempting to be funny) articles, I would like to write about something that has been on my mind recently.
I am a television major and eventually I would like to be a news anchor. I cannot even force myself to watch the news right now. Things are terrible, right? I mean, that's how it would appear. People are fighting and dividing, lives are being lost each day and it seems that we are continuing to fall deeper and deeper into a hole that we cannot escape. It's scary. For someone who is about to be on her own, I'm worried. Politically, socially and economically, it does not look promising.
With so much negative news in the media right now, it is easy for people to view the world in a darker light - I hate that. It seems to me that everyone is so wrapped up in their own personal problems that we have forgotten that other people are going through things as well. Putting all of these issues aside, we need to remember that we're all human. We all deserve happiness; and unfortunately putting others before ourselves has been an extremely overlooked golden rule. If we could all just take a step back from our own personal lives and do something good for someone else, I think the world would be a much better place.
SO, I am proposing a challenge: I have come up with 11 easy and inexpensive ways to make someone else smile. "The Smile Challenge" is in an effort to see social change. Although I do not expect to see drastic results, if this challenge makes one persons day better, then I would consider it to be successful.
Here is the list...
1. Pay someone a compliment.
Who doesn't like a nice compliment every once and a while? A simple, "You look really nice today" can completely turn somebody's day around. So the next time you notice something you like about someone, LET THEM KNOW.
2. Ask someone what you can do to make their day better.
So I recently read in a Facebook article that a man asked his wife, "What can I do to make your day better?" every morning when he woke up. According to him it was extremely beneficial in bettering his relationship. So I took it upon myself to start asking this in my own relationship. Quickly this caught on with my boyfriend. Although 99% of the time the response is a simple, "Nothing, thank you though" - it is always nice to have someone to rely on.
3. Send a friend a hand-written letter.
OK I know how cheesy this sounds, but hear me out. For as long as I can remember my dad has always sent hand-written birthday cards, thank you letters, thinking of you notes, etc. to our friends and family. I never quite understood why he did this. I mean, it's so much easier to shoot a quick text. However, as I have gotten older I understand why he does it. Texts and emails, although convenient, are impersonal. A hand-written letter is a nice and simple way to make someone feel special.
4. Pay for the persons order behind you in a drive-thru line.
I get it, we're all broke. All the time. But the next time you find yourself with a little extra cash, pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line. It will absolutely make somebody's day, not to mention you will have some awesome karma headed your way!
5. ALWAYS forward pictures of cute puppies.
If you don't know why this is a good thing to do, then wyd?
6. Tell someone how appreciated they are.
We all like to feel valued and appreciated. That's just human nature. As a millennial, I feel that sometimes our efforts have a tendency to go unnoticed. Balancing school, a job, an internship and a sorority is challenging...take it from me. So the next time you see someone going above and beyond and really exceeding at something they are working on, tell them. Recognition of hard work is always a rewarding feeling.
7. Send someone flowers.
*cough* BOYS *cough* Boys, if you've got a really awesome girl, show her some appreciation by sending her flowers. We don't care if they are a $10 bouquet from Wal-Mart. Just buy them. Trust me.
8. Hug your friends.
Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what people are going through. Something as small and simple as a hug could make somebody's day and show them that you care about them.
9. Smile at strangers.
PSA the "resting b*tch face" is not cool. You know what is cool? Being a nice human being. The next time you walk past someone, instead of shooting them a blank and almost angry glare, just smile. It's really not that hard.
10. When you are thinking about someone, tell them.
This is something I have recently been trying to do more. During the summer it is hard to keep up with friends. We are all in different locations, busy in our own lives with work, summer school, etc. So, I have tried to make it a point that anytime I am thinking of how a friend is doing, instead of keeping it to myself, I let them know that I was thinking about them.
11. Tell someone you love them.
This is a phrase that I feel is completely underused. When you love someone, let them know. Overuse "I love you."
