I first learned what a compliment was in my early days of elementary school. Our principal's name was Mr. Pauley, a balding man with a thick mustache and a permanent smile on his face. At the end of every school day, he would announce any birthdays in the school, followed by a joke, and ended his announcements with "Have a great day, and make sure to give somebody a compliment." At first, I didn't think much of his encouragement to say some kind words to someone everyday. However, looking back on it, I can't help but be impressed by how wonderful of advice that was.
It's so simple. No cost, with the possibility for incredible payoff. You never know how much a compliment may affect someone. Especially when you pay one to someone you don't even know. Today, I was at a restaurant, just waiting at the counter for my order to be ready, when two of the workers complimented my hair. Nothing fancy, probably didn't take much effort on their part, just "I really like your hair". Maybe it's silly that such a thing could have such an effect on me, but it really made my day! I was so happy after that, it was so nice of them!
I encourage all of you to follow Mr. Pauley's sage advice. Every single day, make it a goal to pay one person a truly genuine compliment. I don't care if it's a friend you've known for years, the sister you see every day, or the girl checking out your groceries at the supermarket. Everyone likes to be noticed and appreciated every once and a while. Whether you say some kind words about an outfit that strikes you as different or interesting, or something they do exceptionally well, it will make them feel good. I know whenever anyone compliments me, it makes me happy, makes me smile, gives me faith in how wonderful people can be sometimes.
So I leave you with the parting words of my beloved principal, have a great day and make sure to give somebody a compliment". You never know how big of a difference a few kind words can make.
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happy. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
When You Feel Sad...
It's been an interesting few weeks since I last posted a blog entry. I had some of the best days of my life, and probably some of the worst as well. I've had a ton of fun, been incredibly happy, been incredibly stressed, felt extraordinarily confused. However, that description is probably pretty standard for life in general. Cycles of happiness and sadness. But, I've found the cure. Yes, it's revolutionary and something no one's ever thought of before, I am sure of it.
So are you ready to hear my secret? Keep in mind, this is not a permanent fix for sadness, however it is a temporary solution. Okay, here it is...
Stop.
Being.
Sad.
Be.
Happy.
Instead.
That is all.
When things seem so bad, and you just cannot stop thinking about whatever it is that's making you sad, STOP BEING SAD! Now, I know what you're thinking, that's much easier said than done. Well, luckily, I've come up with a few steps you can take in order to ward off these bad feelings that get you down.
1. Embrace the power of music. The right song can change your mood at the drop of a hat. That may be a cliche, but trust me, don't waste your time on angsty music that just makes you feel more sad. Use those songs that make you want to dance and sing to your heart's content.
2. Food. Another huge cliche, but seriously, you're sad, these are the moments for your version of comfort food. Whether that be ice cream, pickles, chocolate, just go for it.
3. Things that are self-fulfilling. Exercising, studying, learning a new skill, a big project. Anything that gives a feeling of accomplishment.
4. My biggest suggestion, and probably what is the most effective: Friends. Surround yourself with the people you love who will make you laugh and smile. It's moments like these when you realize how invaluable your friends and family really are.
On another note, I've had a lot of crazy stuff been going on in my life lately, and I wrote down subjects I wanted to talk about at one point or another, but never got to writing an entry on, so those will trickle in in the next few blogs.
So are you ready to hear my secret? Keep in mind, this is not a permanent fix for sadness, however it is a temporary solution. Okay, here it is...
Stop.
Being.
Sad.
Be.
Happy.
Instead.
That is all.
When things seem so bad, and you just cannot stop thinking about whatever it is that's making you sad, STOP BEING SAD! Now, I know what you're thinking, that's much easier said than done. Well, luckily, I've come up with a few steps you can take in order to ward off these bad feelings that get you down.
1. Embrace the power of music. The right song can change your mood at the drop of a hat. That may be a cliche, but trust me, don't waste your time on angsty music that just makes you feel more sad. Use those songs that make you want to dance and sing to your heart's content.
2. Food. Another huge cliche, but seriously, you're sad, these are the moments for your version of comfort food. Whether that be ice cream, pickles, chocolate, just go for it.
3. Things that are self-fulfilling. Exercising, studying, learning a new skill, a big project. Anything that gives a feeling of accomplishment.
4. My biggest suggestion, and probably what is the most effective: Friends. Surround yourself with the people you love who will make you laugh and smile. It's moments like these when you realize how invaluable your friends and family really are.
On another note, I've had a lot of crazy stuff been going on in my life lately, and I wrote down subjects I wanted to talk about at one point or another, but never got to writing an entry on, so those will trickle in in the next few blogs.
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