As we go about our busy lives, we forget to stop and ask about the lives of those around us. It is easy to get consumed in our own stressful, hectic lives, and forget to acknowledge the people we encounter on a daily basis. We’re all busy. We all have jobs, school, friends, family, health routines, goals, and dreams to keep up with. We can get so wrapped up in our own lives, that we forget to pay attention to the lives of those around us. Not just the lives of our close friends and family, but also the lives of our neighbors, peers, co-workers, dog-walkers, babysitters, waiters, cashiers; those we interact with on a daily basis. Life can be stressful and overwhelming, but one way to lessen the burden on ourselves is to put energy into other people. Smile at the guy you walk past on the street, tell your cashier to enjoy the rest of the day, reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in awhile, compliment someone who seems to be doubting herself, include a person in plans that you don’t usually think to include, just to make his day. Not only will you brighten the day of someone else, but you will also brighten your own spirits knowing that amidst your struggle you were able to spread positivity. I believe that in this world we determine our own happiness, yet our actions and words can greatly impact the happiness of others. Changing the course of someone’s day, for the better, requires minimal effort.

This past Spring, my mom was grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s and struck conversation with the cashier. As she grabbed her bags to leave, the cashier told her to wait, he would be right back. Upon returning to the cash register, he handed my mom a bouquet of sunflowers. “Bright yellow sunflowers for someone who brightened my day,” he told her. Making conversation with someone she encountered did not strike my mom as out of the ordinary, however it made an impact on the cashier’s day. He told her that most customers are so consumed with thinking about what errand they have to run next or are talking on the phone that they forget to acknowledge the cashier’s existence. He appreciated her simple act of thoughtfulness.

Everyone is fighting their own battles we know nothing about. Always make the effort to brighten someone’s day and let them know you care. Never underestimate the power of a small gesture. It’s the small things in life that make the big things.