A few years ago, I met a girl during the beginning of college who went in and out of my life rather quickly as we were both making new friends during our freshman year. Thank someone for something they did in the past. People help us everyday, but sometimes they don’t even realize they’re making a difference. These kind of gifts aren’t meant to be big and overdone, they’re just reminders that you thought of someone else, even when you weren’t with them.Ĩ. Even something small like a sticker or postcard can go a long way when it’s etched with remnants of yourself or your interests. It’s nice to receive routine gifts, like the ones we get for birthdays, but even more special than those are the gifts we give out of the blue, simply because something reminded another person of you. It’s a small token of gratitude for the things we do for each other everyday.ħ. My theory is that if you’re requesting something or being given something, even if it’s just “can you pass the salt?” then you should add “please” and “thank you” to your words. Say “Please” and “Thank you.” This one should be a no-brainer, but it’s also pretty subjective when you start to question what you should say it for. I wasn’t sure I’d prefer this nickname in all circumstances, but whenever she called me by it at work, I felt a spark of happiness – not only had she acknowledged my existence, but she made it special and unique just for me.Ħ. One day, one of my previous co-workers started calling me “Mely Mely” consistently. Even better? Make up a nickname for someone (unless they hate your nickname and then you should probably stop using it!). Doesn’t it make sense? Hearing your name is like a validation that you exist to other people. Use their name. I remember reading somewhere that the sweetest sound to anyone is the sound of their own name. This happened more than five years ago and I still haven’t forgotten his generosity.ĥ. Just imagine…with as much money as it costs to buy someone a cup of ice cream, you can make several people’s days and give them a memory that lasts for years. Not only did it make the old couple he paid for extremely happy, but it also made me happy because I got to be the messenger in this exchange. Pay for the person after you. I worked at a gelato store in high school, and one time, a customer gave me money for his order, and then gave me a $10 bill to pay for the people after him. It doesn’t really matter where you put your surprise notes, just that you give them in the first place.Ĥ. Surprise notes can be left in surprise places, like in between the pages of a book they’re reading, or attached to their morning O.J., but they can also be something more simple, like a post-it stuck to their bathroom mirror or a letter placed on their laptop keyboard. Surprise notes can really be anything you make of them, from a heartfelt “thank you” letter to a simple “have a great day!” But it’s the unexpectedness that reminds people they are special and not routine. Surprise Notes. Getting a note is kind of like getting mail…it just feels good. It will make you happy and it will certainly do the same for them.ģ. Recognize the positive thoughts you think about others, and then share them. We all think tons of split-second compliments each day, but since they don’t feel like the kind we’re used to, we don’t give them. But unexpected compliments can go even further, such as telling a hustling busboy that you appreciate his hard work or letting your professors know that you really enjoyed their lesson today. Compliment the unexpected. Certainly, it feels good when someone gives you a compliment on something obvious, like a new haircut or piece of clothing. Be that person…it really can make all the difference.Ģ. Often, they’re just looking for someone who is willing to support their dreams. Our friends aren’t always looking for advice. Believe in them. It makes such a huge difference to other people when you can encourage their ideas and aspirations without trying to “fix” them. Today’s list is a small collection of things we can do to recognize and appreciate the people around us.ġ. Sometimes the best things we can do for others are the simple things we often overlook. Yesterday, when we were talking, he told me that he did end up calling her to wish her a happy birthday and that it made him feel good because he made his mom feel good – something he’s never been able to do in that way before. Me: *Surprised look* You should call her! Him: *Laughs* “No, I’ve never done that before.” Me: “Aren’t you going to call her or something?” His relationship with his family is a little disconnected, so awhile back when he mentioned it was his mom’s birthday, our discussion went something like this: A key component to our own happiness often lies in the answer to this question: what are we doing to make others happy? Yesterday, I was talking to my partner about something that happened a couple months ago.
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