There are so many times in my life when I have something to say but I chicken out. A resolution I have not just for the year but until I can complete it, is to say what I feel. What you wish you could say could be what someone is hoping to hear. If you say what you are thinking or feeling it could change your life or that relationship. A lot of times when I wish I said something it is during a personal conversation but here are some general things I wish I would say more often.
1. Hi.
There are so many times when people pass me and I really want to say hello but I always think of a reason why not to. Ignore that. Imagine how many more relationships you could make by just greeting someone. These relationships may not even be a legitimate friendship but if that’s one more person to smile at or say hi to while you’re walking to or from class then why not say it?
Sometimes when you say hello to someone you could be rekindling a relationship; the other day I walked past someone I knew and we completely ignored each other and to be honest it was sad. I missed this person in my life and if I can’t be big enough to greet them when I see them then we won’t be friends ever again. It only takes one word to begin a new relationship or rekindle one.
2. Thank you for your service.
There are quite a few times when I walk by a person in uniform or an elder wearing a veteran’s hat and I don’t say anything. Sometimes I smile but most of the time I just walk right past them. They deserve acknowledgment for what they have done for our country. They are our heroes and I continue to keep my mouth shut.
The other night after dinner, my grandfather got stopped by someone because he was wearing his World War 2 veterans hat. The lady asked to interview him and his face lit up. It’s obvious how happy it makes one of the people who is protecting or has protected our country when you acknowledge all the work and hard times they went through or are going through to keep us safe. Let them know that their hard work and dedication is truly appreciated - they are not doing this for anything and we are all aware of how much they are doing for this country.
3. No.
There are a lot of different situations where I wished I said no. No, I don’t want to go out tonight. No, I don’t want to watch this. No, I don’t want you near me. No, I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Some of these situations I don’t say no because I am uncomfortable or I want to please people. I am the type of person that says yes more often than not. I need to learn to say no because if I continue to say yes to everything, people will begin to walk all over me knowing that I will say yes to what they ask. Saying no is not a bad thing, be proud to say no. You know your limits and saying no is adding to your strength.
4. I can.
Whether it’s I can’t join another club, I can’t say that, or I can’t do this anymore, I continue to find myself saying I can’t. But the reality is that it is not true... I can. You can do anything you put your mind to - where there’s a will there’s a way. This may sound like the complete opposite of #3 but they are very different. This is more of me believing in myself. If you start to say I can instead of I can’t, you will begin to believe in yourself more, no matter how little the task is. You are taking away the doubt that you unnecessarily put on yourself and replacing it with self-assurance.
5. A compliment.
There is never a wrong time to give someone a compliment. Did someone pass you wearing cool sunglasses, had a great laugh, or have on a good perfume? Let them know. Yes, it could be weird to comment on someone’s perfume but that’s a more normal thing than what you would expect. If you throw a compliment someone’s way, it will most likely make them very happy. You could have brightened their day and hopefully, they will pass it on. Giving a compliment will not only brighten someone’s day but it could also start a relationship. Think of how happy receiving a compliment makes you, wouldn’t you want to spread that happiness?