Has anyone ever randomly said something nice to you? You’re standing in line at the grocery store and the lady in front of you tells your 90 year old mother how pretty she is? Or you’re in a group and someone tells you how much she likes your smile or how flattering your dress is? Or you’re standing in line at the zoo and someone compliments you on how well behaved your children are?

Thoughtful gestures . . . they are about noticing someone else in the franticness that often takes over our days. They are about genuinely caring to make someone’s smile a little brighter, their burden a little lighter, or just letting them know that someone cares. When I was younger I used to take it personally when someone was grumpy with me. Now I realize that life gets in the way of our smiles, and sometimes it takes someone to just say something nice to us to change our entire outlook on the day.

As you come in contact with people, not only as you are out and about, but at home also, realize that others may have some stressful things going on. Or notice how just one friendly gesture can put a spring in someone’s step. Three weeks after the fact, my 90 year old mother still tells people that someone told her she was pretty.