It doesn’t take much – a smile…

This time of year, people are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions.  Many of these resolutions are concerned with things like losing weight, quitting smoking or starting and maintaining an exercise program.  These are all very difficult things to do, so by the end of January most of them will have been forgotten.  There is, however, one resolution that is much easier and, at the same time, makes the world a better place.  That is to make it a point in every encounter with another human being to lift that person up – make them feel better off for having crossed your path.  It doesn’t take much – a smile, a kind word, a compliment or just listening to what that other person has to say.  Such activities require almost no effort on your part but they make all the difference in the other person’s day.  In addition, this type of behavior is contagious.  Now the person whom you’ve just lifted will be doing things to lift others as well.  So, give this a try during 2012.  This will not only put smiles on the faces of the people you interact with, it will put a big smile on your face as well.