Everyone knows which side of the half-booth is the better side of the table. When faced with the soft, squishy cushion or a cold, hard chair, the winner is obvious. As you walk behind the waiter on the way to your table, you’re forced to make a decision. Which side do you take? You could race ahead to get first pick. You could claim you’re experiencing symptoms of some vague illness that requires you to claim the cushy safe haven. You could cause a scene and usurp the booth side as your rightful throne. However, I suggest you take a different route. Try this: give that seat your companion. Why? Just because.

Try being a non-booth side friend for a while. Sit on the chair side and watch the slight look of relief in the eyes of someone who just realized no battle will be had that day. Will your meal experience be ruined? Will your food taste any different? Will you life change drastically? No, no, and no. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll spread a little kindness that day.

There’s a lot of bad in the world. There’s discrimination, racism, and sexism. There’s hatred and war. Twelve years after its initial ask, “Where is the Love?” has even The Black Eyed Peas without an answer. Well, Fergie, Will.I.Am, Apl.De.Ap, and Taboo, I think the love might be in the booth side seat. It’s in the few seconds when you choose to hold the door open for a stranger. It’s in the smile you give to the person you passed on the street but will never see again. It’s in the decision to be nice for no reason.

Giving what you get from the world seems like a very fair way to live, but is it the best way to live? Should we only be spreading kindness when kindness is received? If we’re gonna live that way, we’re gonna end up with a "Chicken and Egg" type conundrum. Where does the kindness start if we’re not willing to start it?

Let's all try being nice just to be nice. Let’s not expect anything back, except the satisfaction of seeing your kindness make someone a little happier. Let's not expect rewards or recognition for our kindness. Let’s not even expect good karma. Let's just be nice because it’s the nice thing to do.

I’m willing to give up the booth side seat, despite its comfort. I’m willing to spend brunch being a bit more uncomfortable than I could’ve been if it means allowing someone else to be happy. Little tiny acts of kindness like these are just starting points. I'll give up the booth side today and spend a few more seconds holding the door for a stranger tomorrow. The next day, I'll give up a few dollars to help someone in need. Just like how dominos fall or snowballs form, the maxium amount of kindness will be manifest. It can all start with the booth.