It’s that silly season time of year when people are busting to go on holiday but it’s not quite time yet. Some people don’t have the opportunity or finances to go anywhere, and others have no choice but to work. Imagine how hard it must be for cashiers and sales clerks to see everybody stocking up on goodies and they have to work throughout the festive season. Spare a thought for those people please.
The situation currently is being made worse by load-shedding. Yes! It’s frustrating as all hell – but we don’t have to let it get us down.
Now is the time that we can all do a couple of things to make life easier.
- Smile often and randomly. Never underestimate the power of a smile.
- Hold the door open for strangers.
- Say ‘Good Morning” or “Hullo” to people that you pass by.
- Tip generously.
- Pay compliments.
- Call shop assistants by the name on their tag, i.e. “Thank you Sindiwe” and toss in a smile too.
- Wave at the police.
- Share food at school or work.
- Make funny faces at babies in grocery queues to keep them entertained.
- Be patient with sales clerks—and be nice!
Of course, if you are feeling generous, you can also do cool things like buying a stranger a cup of coffee, or paying for somebody’s groceries/parking ticket etc.
Other ideas… offer to walk dogs, run errands for elderly people and do garden chores like weeding and de-heading flowers.
Once we start thinking about ways to be nice and to do stuff for people, more ideas come flooding in. The strange thing is good things come flooding back too. What goes around comes around.
The other day I was visiting a friend in hospital. We had to walk up nine flights of stairs and just before getting to the ninth floor—my legs were seriously aching—I passed a tired, sad looking lady. Without thinking, I smiled at her and said “Hi”. She carried on walking. Then I heard her stop. I turned around and she was staring at me, also smiling. She bobbed her head, said “Hullo” back, then carried on trudging down the stairs.
Be the light people. It’s not hard and it costs nothing.
It all starts with our own attitude.
Kindness makes the world a better place.
Sibo.
