It doesn't cost money to show someone you care.
Making someone feel special brightens their day.
But did you also know it's good for your relationships and the world?
Being nice starts a chain reaction of good vibes that unravel like an unseen spool of thread holding us together and strengthening our bonds.
When someone's nice to you, you want to be nice to someone else.
Then that person feels good, and they do something nice.
And so on, and so on, and on...
It's the easiest way to change the world for the better, and it starts with just one person.
And don't worry about the cost, the best ways to make someone else feel special are totally free.
Here are a few free things you do to make someone else feel good:
Give them your undivided attention
When you talk to someone, look them in the eye.
If you nod and respond and quote back what they say, they'll feel like the most important person in the room.
This is called active listening.
It's considered a "soft skill" when used for business.
In real life, it is a good way to show someone they matter.
When you pay attention to what someone's saying, you make everyone you talk to feel great.
Carry something
When you do this, you're literally making their life easier.
My husband carries heavy things for me. He'd never just stand there and watch me struggle.
It shows me he's paying attention to my well-being.
If I see someone struggling, I'll offer to assist even if I don't know them.
Unexpected help can really make someone's day.
Cook something
Cooking is the ultimate act of nurturing.
When you cook for someone, you're giving them life.
It's even more special when you cook for the person who usually does it.
I've cooked professionally on and off for years, but I don't love it, so even though I'm good at it, I hate doing it.
When my husband or daughter makes dinner, I'm happy no matter what.
It doesn't matter if it's eggs on toast.
It always feels like a gourmet feast because I didn't make it.
Let little things slide
It's easy to call people on every little thing that bugs you.
But how about not doing that?
Does your husband tell the same story over and over?
Does your wife always ask you if she looks fat?
Everybody has irritating habits and insecurities.
How about letting them be themselves without having to call them out on it?
How about just nodding and smiling or reassuring them instead of having to point it out.
Do some housework
When someone has a baby or gets sick, they don't need a box of chocolates or plants or cards.
A Walmart gift card would be great, but what if cash is tight?
Why not go to their house and do some cleaning.
When someone's going through a hard time, it's the basic household chores that suffer.
When you're in crisis mode, you're not thinking about your dirty sheets or the ring around the bathtub.
When I had open-heart surgery, my husband had enough on his plate without having to think about the bathroom and the baseboards.
I was laid up for three months, so there was no way we could afford to pay someone.
I'd have loved it if someone had offered to come by and do a bit of cleaning for him.
Illness or maternity leave creates a cash shortfall, so even if they had a cleaner before, chances are they can't afford it anymore.
This also goes for someone you know who struggles with mental illness.
When you get depressed, you lose the motivation to do even the most basic chores.
When my sister was battling depression, I used to clean her apartment for her.
It made her feel a little better and gave me something practical I could do to help.
Open a door and offer to let someone go first
This is a sweet little gesture that takes almost no effort.
It's as simple as saying, "That's okay, you go ahead," anyone can do it.
Letting someone go ahead of you acknowledges and honors them.
It makes them feel seen and appreciated.
In a world that makes people feel small and insignificant, this is a big deal.
That could be the gesture that changes their whole day.
I think being gracious to anyone is worth the effort.
If you're kind to someone, it makes their day better, so there's a better chance that they'll go and do something thoughtful for someone else and so on.
Small gestures are the glue that holds societies together.
They allow us to reach out to one another with compassion and respect.
They change biases, diffuse tension, and, in some cases, change lives.
You might even change someone's attitude just by one random act of kindness.
And if you feel like you don't have the power to transform the world, think again.
The easiest way to create a better tomorrow is by making one person feel special today.