Pay attention to other people. There are many problems in the world
that won't be fixed until they are stared down and confronted, or until
the culture of our society changes, so we need to get started. Make the
effort to really look at people, both friends and strangers, and have
the courage to reach out and say "Hello, I care about you."
It can
be a tiny thing. It can be a sincere smile that brightens someone's
day. It can be taking a moment to pick up a piece of trash, making the
world a bit cleaner and more pleasant, or to hold the door for someone
who has their hands full. It can be noticing that someone is hurting or
needs a friend and offering them an ear, a shoulder, or a hug. It is
easier than it seems to make a difference, and the rewards are great.
It can feel hard at first. I once overheard a woman and daughter at a craft store searching for a certain type of product, and incidentally I had just seen such a product a couple of aisles over. I retrieved it and brought it over to them, asking "Is this what you're looking for?" and showing them where I found it. My heart was pounding, my whole body was shaking, and I was afraid that I was wrong to intrude. But I did it anyway, and nothing went wrong. No one was inconvenienced. No one was angry. I didn't miss my flight or ruin my soufflé or get stung by a bee.
Taking that chance, stepping out of my box to do something solely for another person's benefit, was a positive choice.
Your
words and actions can affect people more than you know. Actively seek
to spread kindness and compassion. Practice the art of noticing what
people need, or what they don't necessarily need but would make them
happy, and sometimes you will find that you can actually give it to
them. The net effect of this sort of lifestyle change can only be positive.
Sharing love is a beautiful thing. You don't have to save
the whole world at once. Start small: in your home, neighborhood,
school, wherever you can reach. A community of sensitive, caring people
will likely become healthier in larger ways, and will lead to social
progress and to happier, more successful people. Make kindness a habit. If everyone does this, the whole world will be better for it.
