Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.
Some days it seems like all we hear about or see is divisiveness, fear, hatred, and violence. After awhile it begins to feel like that’s all there is. It’s exhausting and depressing.
That’s why leaving a little “sparkle” behind is such a powerful act of kindness.
What makes you feel just a tiny bit special?
A hug from a loved one?
Your dog’s joy at seeing you come in the door at night?
What adds “sparkle” to your day?
A smile from a stranger?
Finding an open parking space when you’re running late?
Seeing the first spring daffodils after a long cold winter? (A personal favorite)
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee early in the morning?
Take a minute and enjoy that “sparkle feeling.” Aaaah. . . I’ll bet you’re smiling right about now, aren’t you?
Here’s a radical suggestion —
How about if you and I and everyone else make it a point to do something to spread happiness?
To make someone else feel special . . .
To leave a little sparkle wherever we go . . .
It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Just a simple shift in how we treat each other. . .
A kind word instead of jumping right to criticism.
Letting someone into the traffic flow instead of cutting him off.
Asking a coworker who usually sits alone at lunch to join you.
Showing respect for those who are usually “invisible” to us — clerks, waitresses, bus drivers, all the hard-working folks we too often take for granted.
Taking the time to really listen to your spouse or kids instead of flipping through the channels with the remote and muttering “Uh-huh.”
I’d love to know what you’d add to the “sparkle” list. Please share your ideas.
Together we can spread hope and beauty and transform our world.
10,000 Butterflies is dedicated to planting hope and growing change. Every one of us has the power to create positive change — in our own lives and in the lives of others. Together we can solve problems and build stronger communities. 10,000 Butterflies is a place to connect with others making good things happen, to find resources, to be inspired and to celebrate what connects us instead of what divides us.
Please join us.
Bonnie Pond is the founder of the 10,000 Butterflies Project and author of The Power of Three: How to be Happy and Get What You Want in Life (Without Doing Anything Illegal, Immoral, or Unethical) and Unlock Your Creativity: 30 Days to a More Creative YOU!
