Image by Buncombe County / www.flickr.com
Today was the last day of school. One hour of it anyway! ;o) Here comes summer!
Just thought I would post an idea that turned out to be really fun and simple. Last week, my husband and I were brainstorming ideas of what we could do with our children to really focus on the value of friendliness and kindness. We were talking one night on the way home from our son’s basketball game and came up with an idea. For the rest of the month, we would each talk to 3 new people we had never spoken to before and find out 3 specific things about each person. As we shared the idea with our 8th grade son, he started chuckling and told us that he had already been doing something like that this month! He shared some of his experiences with us and it was really neat.
My husband and I spent the past few days in California celebrating our anniversary. With my focus still on the value this month, I have stretched in ways I really haven’t in a long time. What I have learned is that people really respond to us when we take a minute to listen, say hello, use eye to eye contact, smile, ask a couple of questions or pay a compliment. I learned some very fascinating things about other people by just putting forth a little effort.
I would like to challenge you to try this and let me know how it goes. I know for me it felt a bit awkward but it really is true and reminds me of this quote:
“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves!”
– James M. Barrie
