Little More Kindness...The Original

This past weekend while attending an art show, I was reminded of how a simple gesture of kindness can truly bring on a smile....for everyone involved!

While enjoying the artistic displays and items for sale, we found ourselves in the  "Children Artist Section". This area was great....children ranging from ages 6 - 12 had their tables set up to sell their own artwork. There was such a wide variety of art and these mature little people, manning their booths were fantastic!

I had the great pleasure of meeting (if I had to guess 9 year old) Liam. He sat at a 6 foot long table with simply a pile of stapled papers being held down by a rock to battle the breezes and a sign in a Lucite frame that read "Liam's comic books only one dollar". I had to take a look. I asked him about his work. With a smile on his face he shared with me that there were five comics he had written and illustrated (didn't have time to color) included in the packet and the last one was his favorite...because it was funny and you have to turn it over to see the ending. I offered him a dollar to purchase a copy and his smile got bigger...I asked him if he could autograph it and his smile got even bigger. I explained I wanted his autograph "so that when you.." before I finished he filled in "I am going to be a cartoonist when I grow up"! So very dear.

It was a great exchange meeting Liam. Seeing his ambition at such a young age and the joy on his face when I took the time to chat and buy his comic book.

I'll be the first to admit I've slipped lately with efforts towards random smile energy....aargh Life getting in the way. But summer is here and there are plenty of opportunities to make them happen. I'm thinking kids & lemonade stands here I come! 
                                   

A TIME TO SMILE............

Saturday, December 1st is almost here. YAY! Three days and counting. I must say I get a giddy rush when I think about it!!

I, along with a handful of family and friends will be kicking off the first (fingers crossed, soon to be annual) Smile & Stars Outing at Emerald Mall in North Attleboro, MA at 9:30 AM.

We are ready to bestow smiles, stars, and good cheer to people we meet.  The unknown of the responses is wildly bouncing around inside of me. How many people will we approach? will they be receptive? will they then continue on and share a smile with the next person? Kind of a smile challenge in it's own quirky way.

Ok so a tiny part of me hopes we are confronted by mall security so I can grin from ear to ear, while I explain we are here to brighten shoppers days with smiles and stars...not selling anything, not looking for donations...nothing commercial...just sharing SMILES!

Regardless of how it turns out, although I'm pretty hopeful that I will be reporting it was a fantastic experience, we will have accomplished what we set out to do....bring smiles to people we don't know!

These origami stars that we will be giving out, were made with love and laughter last weekend with friends. It was part of the scenario for me. Each star contains a special message inside..words of encouragement and kindness.

***EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN IN TOUCH WITH ME, AND WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND...COME ON UP TO THE FOOD COURT AT 9:30 am AND JOIN IN, for as short or long as you would like.This is all such an informal wild card, that anything is possible.

Now for folks who are not able to join us...please embark on your own smile spreading crusade, wherever you find yourself Saturday morning. 
We can share stories later! 

There is such power in doing something positive...and starting is the only way to make it happen. So go ahead..make a difference...share a smile!

Memory Lane...Makes Me Smile !

So here's a little something only a handful of people know about me!  I have a small stash of toys, that makes me feel like a kid whenever I take them out. This special collection consists of a coloring book -Strawberry Shortcake, Crayola crayons... (Oops I actually bought those two items recently because I like coloring and it was fun to shop for them......and it had to be Crayola because they are the only brand that gives me a flashback when I smell them) a set of jacks and a super ball, barrel of monkeys, a really big marble and perhaps my real favorite....the original Fisher Price dog! 


Now here's the thing, I very rarely take these toys out but whenever I do, they bring me joy and a sense of playfulness. Sometimes I think just by knowing they are in my drawer brings me comfort. They do occasionally qualify for my S.O.S ..Something Of Substance....for the day.


Just the leisure of reminiscing of other childhood toys brings a smile to my face. Staple items of my childhood pastime included, Kiddle, Dawn and Baby Tender Love dolls, Chinese jump rope (I played cats cradle with it also for hours) Spirograph &Tiddly Winks. And who can forget phrases like...Red rover red rover, Ollie Ollie Oxen Free, My mother punched your mother,(how nasty was that???) and another classic....One potato, two potato"?


So go ahead, put together a collection of memorable toys or trinkets and feel your day be brightened, because......"Tag You're It!"

Make a Difference ...Make Them Feel !

In my quest to participate in a positive way of living, one thing I do is look to quotes for inspiration and encouragement. A favorite site of mine, which emails daily quotes is Gratefulness.org 

A particular quote that has made a difference in my life is by Maya Angelou. 

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

 Actually the more I think about it, when I first read this quote years ago, I felt as if it captured how I was living........ kind of who I am! Someone who wants to make others feel good. I'm sure through deep analysis the reasons behind it could be unearthed, but for me, for now, I know it feels good to make people feel good!

 It is pretty much a knee jerk reaction for me to want to put others at ease, brighten their day or ideally (a tag line I came up with and have big ideas for) Make a Difference...... Make Them Feel!

 I feel small gestures can have such large impact
1. Smile, say hello and make eye contact when you pass someone in the market.....yes they will look that tad confused as if they are suppose to know you. Remember, it is ok to say hello to a person you don't know.....figuring no kids are reading this and I don't have to go into a stranger danger lesson.


2. Acknowledge coworkers with a smile and a genuine caring hello. Must say it does help set the tone, because let me tell you a "barely hello" without even a look up ...ouch!


3. Say a kind word. Share a positive thought or feeling when someone else brings it out in you. Recently, I expressed to a co worker that I really appreciated their effort in taking the time to explain something to me. Yes, I got the puzzled, then pleased look and then a genuine "your welcome".

4. Thank You goes a long way. I have the sincere pleasure of working with the public, which includes interacting with children. Each time a child Thanks me as they leave, I quickly reply "Thanks for Thanking me". It causes them and their parents to do a double take and we all giggle. I started this silly response when my boys were very young.  I wanted to encourage them to say Thank You and see how their kind words could make others feel good.


 See where I'm going with this .......the more we extend a positive gesture, the more it will spread to others and the more it will surround us.....or so I believe!