Make a Difference Monday -- Be Universal

Yes, Monday is here; back to the daily grind. For most people who work, it’s a day to dread all weekend long, but for a few, Monday means a fresh start, or a new outlook. Either way, Monday is the day that I am going to choose for all of us to try to make a small difference in the world.
There is only one action that I can think of that is completely universal. Smiling. A simple smile breaks all language barriers and cultural differences. It’s amazing how a friendly smile from a stranger can brighten your whole day. There are so many people who are caught up in their own little world that they give what Seinfeld calls, “the stare ahead”. That is, if you don’t make eye contact, you don’t have to acknowledge the person. In several Asian countries, there is actually an un-written rule in driving that you should not make any eye contact with another driver. However, so many of us live our day- to- day lives this way. We walk in and out of stores, offices, gyms, churches, and restaurants giving the stare ahead and avoiding the common courtesy of a smile or holding a door open for someone else. I know when I’m having a horrible day, and someone flashes a quick smile my way it can make my attitude change in an instant. Now, please understand that I’m not an advocate of sporting a fake smile at all times. It’s just not healthy. There are times when people (especially those close to us) need to see that we’re not always hunky-dory. Allowing those closest to you to see past the surface is essential to actually becoming happy and not just the having the façade. But, I really think that in our daily activities when we’re surrounded by strangers, a smile is exactly what is needed. You never know when you can be a light in someone’s dark tunnel. Go out and make a small difference to one or a one hundred. Just smile : )