A Good Deed A Day

I once knew a man who made it his mission to do something nice for someone every day. He lived to be 84 and was one of the happiest most loved people I have ever met, if not the most. An article I read today reminded me of my own personal desire to focus more on appreciating everything I have in life, and sharing my joy and enthusiasm with others.

A random act of kindness or a good deed done daily makes you feel better about yourself, improves your outlook on life, and can give you a sense of increased self-worth. You know that you are making a difference someones life, whether it is a complete stranger, a coworker, or a friend.

Have you ever had a complete stranger do something nice for you? Whether it was holding open a door, covering your change in line at the cashier, chasing after you to hand you the credit card you dropped on the floor, or the little old lady who made it a point to tell you how well behaved your children are, those little acts of kindness can make a huge difference in your day, and even your life.

Let me explain:

One small act can influence a chain of positive reactions. Have you ever seen the movie "Pay it Forward?" It is such a great concept. I do something nice for you, you do something nice for the next person, and it spawns a whole entire network of positive thoughts and energy out into the world. Good begets good, and the more good you put out into the world, the more good you get back!

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What if the person you performed that nice, random act for happens to be the executive you are interviewing with in fifteen minutes for your dream job? You have inadvertently already showed this person that you are polite, caring, and a good person. If you let the door smash into their face because you didn't have the courtesy to hold it a few extra seconds, you probably haven't made the best impression.

So, you already hold doors. What else can you do? Commend someone on a job well done. Send compliments to the chef on a great meal. If the cashier seems flustered at the number of people in line, compliment her on her ability to stay cool under pressure. Compliment a stranger on shoes or a shirt you like. Express gratitude to a volunteer, officer, postal worker, etc for their dedication. Send a "thinking of you" note in the mail. Pick up trash as you are walking by. Donate to goodwill. Smile at someone. Grab your boss a coffee. Offer to join a stressed out co-worker at lunch.

If you have trouble forgetting to perform a good deed a day, put an alarm on your phone or in your Outlook to remind you! In no time it will be like second nature, and you will notice the positive effects you have on others, and how much more positive you feel about your own life!