For the last two weeks, I have been going on a walk every morning. As soon as the boys get on the bus, I put Kaitlyn in her stroller, turn up the "workout" playlist on my iPod, and cruise around the neighborhood. I love listening to music while I walk - sometimes I find myself singing along, not caring about who might be able to hear me. Kaitlyn is quiet the entire time. She loves being outside. (Of course, maybe the fact that my music is turned up and I can't hear whether she is talking or not may also have something to do with it.)
I noticed the first week I was walking that if I crossed paths with people, I would do like I usually do: nod my head or kind of half-smile. But toward the end of the first week, something happened that changed my outlook. I was walking down the left side of the street, since we don't have sidewalks in our neighborhood, and I had my music turned up. Suddenly, a short bus came up behind me and passed me. I looked up, and there was a young man sitting on the bus, looking right at me with a huge smile on his face and waving to me with his entire arm. I waved back to him, my smile matching his.
Doing this made me think back to one person I knew who always had a smile on her face, and was always kind and friendly to everyone she crossed paths with, whether she knew them or not. Jill R. was my friend when I lived in Orem and she is the friendliest person I have ever known. I decided right then, as I was smiling and waving to the young man on the bus, that I want to be more like him. I want to be more like my friend Jill.
So ever since this experience, I have been smiling, waving, and saying hi to people, whether it's the man who mows our lawn (HOA), or the couple who was fighting on the sidewalk as I walked between them on another of my walks, or random people while I am walking to the library from the parking lot.
I think the world needs a little more kindness, a little more happiness, a little more love. Thanks, to the young man and to my friend Jill, for your great examples.
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I taught a nursery lesson a couple of weeks ago about how the kids can give smiles and make people happy. It was pretty hilarious.
Thanks, Erin. That's very kind. Connecting with others through a smile and hello is a simple act, but I think it has powerful effects. :) Enjoy your walks and scattered sunshine!
Ha! You walked right through a fighting couple, smiling? That is awesome.
Awesome! I wonder how that would go over in Poland. :) I actually have recently started to smile at people more often. For me I want to step outside my life more often. Instead of being so involved with my own kids and what's going on with us while we're out, I want to notice others and consider what their lives might be like more often.
Wonderful idea!
I agree, we could all stand to be a little more kind! Just last night, we went out to dinner. It was a last minute decision and apparently a lot of other people felt the same way because the wait was 30 minutes. As the hostess took down my name, I told her she was just about the most adorable thing I'd seen all day and if she wouldn't mind, I'd be sending my equally adorable nephew her way. She smiled and blushed…and then called our name less than 10 minutes later. See? Pays to be nice.
Great reminder, Erin. I love your blog and how you get me thinking all the time of how I can become a better person!
Hey this reminds me! I always try and make it a point to smile at people during the holiday shopping season - Christmas shoppers can look so gloomy! Why not do it all year? (answer: no reason!)
My mom used to tell me to do this when I was a grumpy teenager. I'm afraid I didn't really listen . . . maybe I'm old enough now to take this advice :)
I think it's wonderful, and I know I don't do it nearly enough! Thanks for the challenge!
Yeah, I really want to get out of my head and be more like this, too.
Happy walking!
That's a great idea. We had a special needs student at my high school who had hit on every single girl in the school regardless of looks. When he graduated and walked up to get his special diploma, an unearthly roar of female voices rose from the crowd the likes of which I've never seen since. It was so amazing! He'd probably hit on every single one of us in his cute "do you like me as a fwend or as a boyfrwend?" way.
I always assume everyone wants to be my friend and thus I talk (or blog comment) pretty much everywhere I go. Drives my poor Hubs crazy! LOL! I am THAT lady in the grocery store line who will strike up a conversation with you (though I do try and take a hint when people don't want to chat).
Well said. Wish more had the same outlook!
The short bus will always bring you happiness
What a perfect post for me. I've been a little lazy with my kindness lately. I needed to read this today.
I have to admit that this is one of the only reasons I like running outside versus inside on a treadmill. Outside, there is a sense of "community" in running/walking. I love that. I love passing people with a smile and nod.
Such a great reminder, Erin. I think we all get caught up in our own head too often. Smiles are fantastic.
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