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We live in challenging times. Fear and frustration seep into our soul, infecting our passion, our productivity, and the people around us. Our joy is diminished, our light is dimmed. We repress our compassion for others and soon our behavior changes as we become less patient, less generous, less kind. Good people share fewer smiles, words, and favors which causes other good people to experience fewer smiles, words, and favors. And on it goes.

The good news: even though we live in a world where frustrating and scary things happen, we also live in a world where one person can improve your day with a single act of kindness. A colleague’s thoughtful comment, a neighbor’s quick favor, or even a passerby’s warm smile can jolt you from your busy day and remind you, oh yeah, life is good. You realize that this Thing you’re worried about isn’t so awful after all, and maybe you can face that challenge and come out on top.

And it doesn’t stop there. When that small action changes your mood and lifts your spirit, it increases the chance you’ll smile at the next person you meet and maybe even pause to say “hi” or help them out if they need a hand with something. That puts them in a slightly better place to create a kindness to the next soul they encounter, and on and on and on it ripples....

The fact that kindness ripples isn’t a secret; everyone knows about the power in these tiny actions as well as their contagious, infectious ability to get passed on. We also know how good it feels to DO kindness. When I’m out running errands, I prefer to reach my destination quickly and efficiently. Then I slow down and let another driver into my lane even though it is MY lane, and I notice it feels kinda good and costs, about 2-3 seconds of my life. Then there is a woman with just a few items who I let in front of me at the check out lane, and the older couple at the restaurant whose stories about life in the old days are worth hearing even though I need to get to the airport.

So why don’t we DO them more? Because we are busy with work and school and chores and errands and lists and planning. Because we are anxious about the future and worried about the past as we zoom through our todays. Because we are trying to text and drive and think and plan and rationalize and worry, worry worry about how we are going to get everything done.

These tiny moments define our days and a lifetime is nothing more than collection of days. It is worth striving to be more present in each moment and noticing the people around us to identify those precious opportunities we can smile, say “Thanks,” or “Way to go,” or to extend a hand.

In that spirit, I am driving around the country in my smile-covered Prius to remind us all  that we CAN make it through these challenging times by helping each other with warm smiles, kind words, & quick favors.  I will collect and share photos of smiling people holding encouraging notes as a symbol of the kindness we are capable of unleashing.