Not Assholes, But Rude

This morning I took a walk. The breeze was blowing, and the sun was up and warm as I meandered my way home.
But the cheery silence was broken by two cars hauling ass down the hill, screeching their tires and revving their engines and rattling their frames with speed. They nearly hit me, and continued to race away.
It doesn't take a lot to be considerate. Or inconsiderate. Which one would you rather be?

Not Valentine's Day, But Any Day

Flowers are an easy way to tell someone you love them. Why not go to your local grocery store or nursery and buy some greenery for a loved one, or even a stranger. It is amazing how five dollars can change someone's day from terrible to wonderful.

Not Hard, But Helpful

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
This year one of my resolutions is to do more for my community. Wether it is taking the time to pick up trash at a park, or go to a hospital and massage the hands of the nurses or housekeepers on their lunchbreaks... I know that kindness is contagious, and I want to spread it around.
The world needs some lifting of the spirits. It needs people who are not too bored or too afraid or too numb to get up and do something bright. Plant a seed somewhere, anywhere. Smile at a stranger. Be kind to telemarketers.
Bring some kindness into your small part of the world, and it may change someone else's. There is no such thing as small change.

Anything Helps

A great way to make people smile with very little effort is to just acknowledge them. A few nights ago my friends and I went out to the bars in downtown Sac. It was a bit chilly and a as we were walking around we noticed many people hangin out in the cold talkin about not having enough money or enough drive to have fun that night. We simply approached these groups of people, introduced ourselves and made conversation just to be friendly. Before we walked away, we would offer up a dollar. Not five or ten; just one dollar. Most people acted as if no one had ever done anything so selfless and honorable. It was kind of an amazing feeling actually. Ironically, most of them turned it down and seemed unsure about the whole deal. I can understand their thought process though. Someone approaches you outside a bar in Sac at 1 AM and offers you money with no strings attached? Get real. HOWEVER, those who did accept our very modest offering of ONE dollar seemed to like up like a damn Christmas Tree.

Opportunities present themselves everyday. You just have to be willing to act upon them. 

Not Convoluted, But Simple... and f***ing delicious

       
            Work, paired with the obstacles one must overcome on a day to day basis, can be very exhausting. This can create a large amount of stress in the family, with friends, or even at the workplace. You can help chill these hot tempers with some nice, creamy, warm cocoa. Real drinking chocolate or even the simple powdered variety can bring an epic, exultant look to any body's face.

After work today, I went next door and purchased a few boxes of this amazing, dehydrated beverage mixture. I handed out packets to all of my co-workers, one by one; each time taking a moment to watch that childish little grin grow across their face. It only set me back a couple of dollars but it gave everyone a boost to finish out the night. Of course, some chili powder or some peppermint Schnapps would have given it a little extra kick, but the spice rack at my work is kinda sparse and alcohol isn't really allowed on the sales floor.

As the days get colder, give this some thought and maybe try it out at your work. It takes very little effort, but the return is totally worth it. Maybe pick up a small pack of gingerbread cookies while you're at it and really show everyone how bad ass you are.

Not Human, But Humane

I read today, on Lindsay Ostrom's blog (see link) a story about a humpback whale caught in a net. Four divers went out to help, and were successful in cutting the lines. The whale actually danced in circles, and shook hands (fins?) with each of her rescuers before swimming away.
Now that is gratitude.
Even if you are not a diver, or a swimmer, or someone who even knows how to swim, you can appreciate the skill and open-heartedness it takes to do something like that. I don't think most people have even seen an animal bigger than themselves, let alone one of the largest mammals of the ocean-a place humans clearly have the disadvantage. So three cheers to those helpful divers! huzzah huzzah huzzah!

What is your favorite animal? Tigers? Elephants? Eagles? Find out what you can do to help save their habitats, or get them out of abusive zoos, or support the no-euthenization animal shelters near you. If we all do what we can, maybe things will get brighter for everyone... not just the human race.

Not Expensive, But Helpful

Some other ideas that are quick, easy, and inexpensive... and can make someone smile.

-Pay for the person behind you in a drive through line. (I did this this morning.)
-Put quarters in a coin-op washer and dryer, or parking meters.
-Bring a box of donuts to work and don't tell anyone it was you.
-Tip your coffeshop barista.
-Bring flowers to someone in a random office building.
-Send a holiday card to someone you find in the phonebook.
-I lost the game.
-Print a funny cartoon, cut it out, and tape it on the nearest public surface.
-Smile at everyone you see.
-Drive behind your local craft store, pick up 4 huge bags of bubble wrap, and pile it in your living room. Let your 5-year-old little brother play in it for as long as he wants. (We did this recently.)