5 easy ways to be polite...

Remember a while back when I wrote about my pet peeve, rude behaviour? Well, I am back, but with a slightly more positive spin on things. I recently joined the #1000Speak campaign and that got me to thinking of a few basic ways to be polite throughout your daily life. These truly are basic tasks that will not require anything extra out of your day nor cost you anything monetarily. Being polite or kind needn't cost anything but a few moments to remember basic manners we were all taught as a child. In today's society we are all so hurried and can't get anywhere fast enough or gazing at our phones that sometimes I think we all just need a gentle reminder that those basics you were taught as a toddler and then as a small child still ring true. So, here we go....

1. The use of "Please" and "Thank You". These are words that are not hard to utter and should be something you learned as soon as you could talk! Thank your customers, thank your cashier, say please when ordering or when asking someone to pass you something. If someone sends you something call them and thank them or send them a card. These are things that do not take a lot of time and they really foster human interaction. 
2. Smile. Again something that isn't hard to do, but so few people actually do it! Smiling can lift not only your mood, but the mood of those around you. I have never met a person that if you are smiling won't smile back! I have tested this theory in three countries now and every time I smile at someone they smile back! Here in Holland I've had people wave too (I'm sure they figured they must know me, but makes me happy just the same haha). So smile it is a small gesture and can completely turn your day around.
   
3. Move over on the sidewalk/don't look at your phone when walking. If you are walking a few people wide and don't go single file forcing someone else to walk in the grass...it is just rude. Plain and simple. The world doesn't revolve around you and moving behind those you are walking with to make room for others to quickly pass you is such a small gesture that shows you are thinking of others. Also, when walking don't look at your phone. I have seen several instances lately of people walking in to others/poles/trash cans all because checking their phone was so important. Guess what...it isn't! If it is...walk to the side somewhere and respond to whatever it is, give it full attention or call the person....and not on a blue tooth.
4. Blue tooth speakers/people who love to talk on the phone on the train/tram/in a coffee shop...stop, just stop. You look weird and aren't quiet. In fact you are usually louder than if the person were sitting right next to you...we don't care about your conversation and you shouldn't want us to hear it.
5. Hold the door. Seriously, if you see someone exiting right behind you or coming in as you are leaving, just hold the door...don't let it slam in someone's face. There is no call for it and it will really brighten their day...oh and smile at them as they go in or out of the door...double politeness whammy right there! BOOM!

So, there ya go, five simple ways to go about spreading kindness in your day. The world will thank you for it and so will your mind. Thinking of others is a natural boost for you and for those around you. People will notice when you take them into consideration and with all that is going on in the world today we could all use to spread a little kindness and cheer.

10 Things that Make Me Smile

Bet ya didn't know that today is World Smile Day!  Pretty awesome day...and since I love to smile I thought I would share a list of 10 things that make me smile!

1. The Teenager. She is hysterical. She has a great personality, is quirky, and is strong in her convictions and all those things make me smile.

2. My Husband. He is wacky and insane....he has a hobby and career (that are closely related) and he encourages me to dive into my projects and hobbies. Plus he loves to make me laugh and smile and so that helps me to always be happy.

3. Living in Europe. The opportunity and experience this and share it with my husband and teenager is a true dream come true.

4. A great friend that despite the miles that have separated us over the years we keep in touch and get together whenever we are in the same vicinity or make a point to visit one another.

5. Parents who are kind, giving, and helpful.

6. My bike. I love the fact that I get to travel everywhere via bike and see the city from a different point of view.

7. My iPhone 6. Seems small but I love the larger screen and how much faster it is than my old 4! Originally I wasn't going to take the plunge and get one, but after seeing it and holding it in person and taking pictures with the amazing camera I couldn't not get one!

8. Our new duvet cover. It makes our bedroom look ten times better than the ugly plain black one we had before.

9. These coffee syrups...they are good and easy on the wallet ;) Plus they lead to a really amazing coffee time with afore mentioned teenager!

10. Fall flavors. You can make them spicy or sweet and serve them warm or cold...tasty all different ways.

So, what makes you smile?

P.S. Linking up to My Little Babog Blog.