19 Tiny Things You Can Do That Will Brighten The World Around You
Smile at a stranger - you never know how that could make someone’s day. Just don’t be weird about it.
1. Smile at a stranger – you never know how that could make someone’s day. Just don’t be weird about it.
2. Hold a door open for a stranger.
3. Acknowledge the homeless person you would typically walk by as you race down whatever city street you’re on. You don’t have to stop and have a conversation. A smile or a head nod can suffice – but make a habit out of seeing people, all people.
4. Say, “thank you” to whoever holds a door open for you.
5. Say, “thank you” to your barista in the morning.
6. Say, “thank you” to your spouse for making the coffee.
7. Say, “thank you” when someone does something kind for you.
8. Forego your five dollar latte, and donate that five dollars to a politician that you believe in.
9. Forego your five dollar latte, and donate that five dollars to an organization that’s helping the environment.
10. Forego your five dollar latte, and donate that five dollars to an organization that’s committed to helping human rights.
11. Forego your five dollar latte, and pick one of the million charities that exist in this world. DonorUP is an excellent place to start doing research.
12. Invest in a reusable straw for your caffeinated beverages. Yes, it’s a small thing. Small actions lead to significant changes.
13. If you haven’t hopped on the reusable bag train, come aboard now. Stop using plastic bags when you go grocery shopping or any kind of shopping for that matter and bring your cloth friends instead.
14. Invest your money wisely while grocery shopping. Maybe that means buying organic when you’re able. Perhaps it means picking and choosing brands that are less harmful to the environment. Perhaps it doesn’t mean going vegan, but it does mean having one day of meat-free meals. Again, small actions do not fix huge problems, but they start ripples of change.
15. Call your friends. Check in on them. Ask them how they’re doing. You never know when someone might need an ear to listen, and how that’ll help them get through the rest of their day.
16. Call your parents if they’re still around. Resist the urge to take them for granted.
17. Resist the urge to post nasty things on your social media feeds. I know it can feel good at that moment, but does it serve a useful purpose? Or does it just fan flames that are already burning out of control?
18. Write a letter of thanks to your local fire department and EMS workers. They’ll appreciate it.
19. Send happy mail to 5 people you know, for no other reason than you just want to tell them how much you love them. You can get a card at CVS for ninety-nine cents. You can make your own card, too. You don’t have to wait until it’s someone’s birthday to send them a card.
