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The Kindness Club: Week 2 Prompt
It is the second week of the Kindness Club. I am very excited.
Last week’s prompt was to be kind to yourself and take 15 minutes every day just for yourself. Some people linked up their “be kind to themselves” posts and others just told me they did think about it and had some success at it. Keep that going and now I will add another prompt and another kindness habit.
The prompt this week is to at least once a day smile at a stranger for no reason. I know that might sound odd. I am not talking about going up to some weird person and just smiling in their face.
You know what I am talking about. It can be a mother with kids at the park or in the supermarket, an old person at a bus stop, or the cleaning person at your office. There are times when you make eye contact with someone. At times like that, giving them a smile is really not a big deal but it can make a big difference in their day. You know what they say, smile and the world smiles with you.
I will even go to an extreme. A simple smile can even prevent someone form doing something terrible. I was reading this article by a psychiatrist, Robert I. Simon, M.D, about suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge. Below is the relevant excerpt.
” Mr. Hines described his struggle with a severe bipolar disorder that emerged during his adolescence and worsened over time. Mr. Hines was overwhelmed by paranoid delusions and command auditory hallucinations demanding that he kill himself. Unable to function, he withdrew from college and immediately took a bus to the Golden Gate Bridge. Like many people about to commit suicide, he was ambivalent about dying. He tarried at the bridge railing for about 40 minutes, trying to decide whether to go through with his plan to jump.
A number of people walked by him, oblivious to his anguish, unaware of his life-and-death struggle. Mr. Hines told us that “If someone had smiled and said, ‘Are you okay?’ I know I would have begged them to help me. I would have told them everything and asked for help. I would not have jumped. I just was unable to ask for help myself.” In fact, a foreign tourist did stop and talk with Mr. Hines. She asked him to take her picture, which he did. As she walked away, he felt more than ever that “Nobody really cares.” He jumped. On the way down, he changed his mind. He remembered thinking, “I want to live. Why am I doing this?” It was too late. Severely injured, Mr. Hines was kept afloat by a sea lion until rescuers arrived.
I asked Mr. Hines that if someone had smiled at him when he was on the bridge, given the severity of his mental illness, would it have prevented his suicide attempt? He answered, “Yes, a smile would have most definitely helped in my case. If the smile is genuine and caring, and it looks like the person is approachable, that person could have such an impact on a suicidal person at the moment of desperation. They could well save a life.” I recalled the horror-stricken figure in Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” One sees indifferent people strolling in the background.”
I know that is a bit heavy, but what I wanted to point out is that something so simple to do, that costs us no money and takes almost no time to do can make a tremendous difference in someone’s day or life. A smile can make all the difference.
So this week we are going to test that theory. If you smile at people you don’t know, do they smile back? How does it make you feel when someone you don’t know smiles at you? I know that when someone smiles at me it makes me smile too and it lifts my mood. I know that smiling makes me happy and when I get someone to smile back at me that is even better.
So go on. At least once a day smile unprompted at one person that you don’t know. Or if you want to smile at lots of people, by all means go ahead.
Then write about it and come back starting Sunday to share with everyone your smiling experiences. (McLinky will be up Sunday-Tueday for you to link up your smiling blog posts.)
If anyone who is not a blogger wants to join in please feel free to email me at newdaynewlesson@gmail.com and I will put your story up on my blog.
Images:
SMILEY FACE BALL
© Dawnbal1 | Dreamstime.com
Written by Susie
I am me and also lots of other things like a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a daughter in law, a sister in law, a friend, an oncology nurse, a blogger, a life coach in training, an avid book reader, a chauffeur, a chef, a shopper, a maid and on some days a bit overwhelmed. On this blog I share my journey of striving to see the best in everyone and everything. Strive, because I don't always manage to. Yup, I am human. I would love to have you join me in learning lessons in positivity from life.
Filed under: Featured, Kindness Club, Lesson of the Day · Tags: Kindness Club, smiling, suicide
28 Responses to "The Kindness Club: Week 2 Prompt"
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Great one. Something so simple really does have a profound power to make a difference. Really excited about going out there and giving some smiles. Good on you for organising this club. You rock. *smile*
Thanks so much and waiting to see how smiling changes your day as well as others.
Hi Susie, as you know this is a pet subject of mine! I smile at everyone! Smiles are free but made of gold dust. Did you know that?
No I did not!
Wow-so if I smile a lot I will get a whole bunch of gold?
Oh I love the new banner!!!! Gorgeous!
Thanks and lots of thanks to Heather!
I love this one because I am the person that will talk to you in a shop or in a queue and it all starts with a smile
Jen.
Yup-that’s me too!
What a great idea. OK, will do it, and will be easy to do in California (much harder in the UK).
LOL-your special chore will be to continue doing it even when you get back to the UK.
A smile is such a powerful thing! I always smile at strangers – probably why they think i’m so flippin crazy. I think it does make a big difference to peoples days.
Smile do make a big difference. Am thinking though it’s not the smiling that makes people think you are crazy
Muwwaaahhh and hugs and you know I am kidding right?
I have just found your kindness club! Awesome idea…it made me laugh that I managed to miss week one – I always put myself last!
I live in the South – in a small town. It should be really easy here… I’ll let you know!
So glad you found it. No reason not to be kind to yourself even if you missed the prompt. I think that each week builds on the next. Waiting to see how smiling in a small town is!
I’m always smiling at people I can’t help it and sometimes I get some weird looks too. I also use my smile when I’m nervous to try and hide my anxiety.
LOL-I think the only time I don’t smile is when I am nervous.
I too am quite a smiley person….sure that I look like a complete loony most of the time as most people in England are so bloody miserable!!! Will try my very best this week to smile at everyone!!!
LOL-am hoping that you are English if you are insulting the English. I have met loads of lovely Brits who aren’t miserable so maybe your smiling will change Britain.
My god had he killed the sea lion?
Focus R, focus! It’s about smiling, not about the actual fact that he jumped and sea lions helped.. *sighs*
Go smile at someone.
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arh bet i just made you smile
Yes you did-so are you going to blog about that? But I am not really a stranger am I? (Just strange)
I make it a point to not only smile at a stranger, but offer genuine compliments to someone I’ve never met as well. It’s a lot of fun brightening up someone else’s day!
I love doing that as well. It does make a difference.
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