9 Ways To Improve The World – Today

Earlier today, my friend Kris uploaded a short video on Facebook showing a very simple way to be a better person.

In an earlier post, I discussed how being polite is free, and you should do more of it. But, Kris’s video really got me thinking, there must be so many small, simple things you can do on a daily basis to be a better person. Here are 9 of them.

1) Smile.

It doesn’t get much simpler than this. When passing a stranger on the street or in the hallway, try flashing a smile instead of pretending to look at your phone. You’ll make a human connection, and feel better when they smile back – which they most likely will, then they’ll feel better too. Win/win.

2) Compliment someone.

How easy is this? A simple “You look nice” can brighten someone’s whole day. Most people put some effort into how they’re going to look for the day, and if even one person notices and appreciates it, it’s worth it. Be that one person.

3) Pick up some trash.

There are enough people out there ruining our planet, we don’t need to stand by idly and watch them. If there is a piece of trash, a water bottle, a napkin, or whatever in your path and a trash can or recycling bin nearby – don’t just kick it out of the way. Do your small part.

4) Be nice to the waiter/waitress.

There is no reason to snap at someone who might have brought the wrong order to your table by accident. You’re not their only table of the night and they are human, just like you. I cannot fathom any reason whatsoever to be rude to waitstaff, unless they are being blatantly rude to you, but that’s another issue.

5) Use your turn signal.

This one really grinds my gears. It’s the simplest thing to use the little lever to the left of your steering wheel to signal where you’re turning. This is in order to warn other drivers that you’re about to do something probably illegal and not catch them off guard. Show a little courtesy, it’s not your road.

6) Hug someone.

Sometimes people just need a hug, man.

7) Let someone go in traffic.

Are you one of those people who will ride the bumper of the person in front of you so nobody else can get ahead? Stop that. If someone needs to merge, let them go (as long as they’re using their turn signal, see #5) – being behind an extra car length won’t kill you. Sure, it’s a thankless job, but if you’re doing nice things for a reward, then you’re not doing them for the right reasons anyway.

8) Pay for someone’s coffee.

Nothing turns a crappy morning around like having the person in front of you in line saying “Hey, i got theirs too.” If you’ve never done it for a random stranger before, it’s a great feeling – try it sometime. You can spare the extra few bucks.

9) Buy someone something.

It doesn’t have to be something extravagant, but if you know someone is having a hard day or a tough week, sometimes a small little token to let them know you were thinking of them could be the exact sunshine they needed. It doesn’t have to be someone you’re intimate with, either.

What are some other random acts of kindness you’ve performed for someone?

Doing something nice for someone else never takes away from your happiness – it only increases it.

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