I didn’t get my handwritten note sent yesterday, and I have no good excuse. I know who it’s going to, so today is the day. One nice thing about this gratitude challenge is that you don’t have to be perfect. If you miss a day, there’s always tomorrow.
As we begin our second week, I want to talk about stacking. The idea is to build on each day’s challenge rather than forget about it when the day is over. So far, we’ve worked on not complaining, noticing the little things, being present, sharing cherished memories, thanking people who matter to us, resisting consumerism, and writing a handwritten note. As I reflected on yesterday’s college football games, I was reminded of Day 1: no complaining. Apparently, that one requires a little more practice. The point is that we can work on these things every day. The goal is to make gratitude a habit, not another item on your to-do list.
Today’s challenge is simple. Smile. It might make people suspicious, but give it a try anyway. Here’s a little experiment. Try smiling and being unhappy at the same time. It’s harder than you might think. Smile at your family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. Smile when you’re talking on the phone. Believe it or not, people can hear the difference in your voice. A smile costs nothing, takes almost no effort, and might make someone’s day a little better. Yours included.
Tonight, take a few minutes to journal about your experience. Did smiling more change your mood? Did people smile back? Did you notice any difference in how people responded to you? Sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference, and that’s something worth being grateful for.
