Spreading Joy – Vol. 409, April 13, 2017

It is so easy to spread some joy to the world, and in so doing you are bringing joy to yourself. How do you do this? Simple: smile at people as you go through your day. I don’t know if you ever realized this, but when you smile, the people that you encounter will smile back (in most cases). It’s an automatic response. I can’t tell you how many times people have let me go in front of them on line, just for the price of a smile.

If you are noticing that someone is having a hard day, like the cashier on the grocery line, validate it for them by saying something like, “It looks like you are having a rough day. I hope it gets better.” I have found that when I have done this, the cashier always thanks me for that validation and puts a smile on her face.

If you are out with someone who is having a hard time financially, offer to pick up their tab – it will make their day. Those few bucks are an excellent investment in you bringing joy to both of you.

If someone is quiet and shy, go up and introduce yourself to them. Make a comment that will bring a smile to their face – like a compliment of some sort, as long as it comes from your heart. You may make yourself a new friend in the process.

There are so many small things that we can do to make someone’s life joyful. It’s all about being able to empathize, being kind and sharing what we have, even if it is merely a smile. The best part is that you bring joy to yourself in the process.

The Simple Things In Life – Vol. 407, March 30, 2017

Over the years I have been able to do so many fun and interesting things, all over the globe. However, it seems at least for the present time, it is the simple things that will need to bring me fulfillment. What do I mean by this? Over the past few days, I have been able to play Scrabble with someone, who is educated, yet I creamed her – both times. To be fair I received many of the letters with high points early in the game, so was at an advantage. What made this so much fun was knowing that I could create great placements for words increasing my points, and second playing with someone who just enjoyed the game as much as I did. It didn’t matter that I beat her, what mattered was that we had a great time using our minds to come up with interesting words, this according to her. In her case she had the “x” and came up with the word “moxie.” That isn’t one I see on the Scrabble board ever.

I have also gotten back to doing 1,000 piece puzzles. There is a certain person that I hang out with sometimes who loves doing puzzles. When you get a group of pieces to fit together and then find out where they fit in the larger puzzle – few things are as fulfilling as that.

It is through these two activities that I have gotten to know these two woman much better. It is through these two activities that we have shared some fun. Because, the reality is that one doesn’t need a whole lot to create a good time. It just takes doing something that you enjoy doing, with someone that you enjoy doing it with, even if that is yourself. Hell, a good book bringing you to distant times, and distant places is one of the best activities in the world. And the cost is zero if you go to the library to get the book. Go enjoy those simple things in life that bring you happiness and fulfillment.