Big service projects are awesome, but they take planning and coordination and I'm better at participating than I am at organizing. That's not to say I refuse to plan a big service project, just that I'd rather not.
So how can we do good works in between the big service projects our leaders come up with? I say we be nice to people.
Say hi to people in the halls, not just your friends. Be friendly to everyone. Lift someone's spirits when they're having a rough day. Do little things to make someone's day.
Last year at school, Beth's locker was right next to mine. I didn't know her very well, but we'd been in the same PE class a few years back and had been partners for a lot of the activities like tennis and pickleball. Anywho, one day she put a sign on her locker that said "Need a smile? Take one" and had smiley faces along the bottom. D'you know how people do that on signs with like phone numbers and stuff, so you can rip it off easily and not have to write the information down to remember it? She did the same thing with the smiley faces. It totally made my day. And based on how long it took for all the smiley faces to be taken (not long at all!), she made a lot of people's days.
I had not taken a smiley face, but seeing the sign was good enough :) I wrote her a thank-you note. Thanking her for being awesome and making people smile. I wish more people would do little things like what Beth did to make people smile :)
By all means, please get involved in big projects every chance you get. They can be great fun, and a wonderful way to serve. But big projects aren't the only way to make a world of difference in someone's life. We're all human, we all want to feel loved and cared for. Let someone know that you're cheering for them. Because that emotional support is important.
<3 Marie-Rose
(You probably already know that I change all names when I mention people I know in real life, but her real name isn't Beth)
Thank you so much for this post! Good job Beth (whatever your name is ;) I think the reason why most people don't do more small service is because the only thing we can think of is "hi" and it feels like that's not enough. But any small act of kindness is worth it!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally stealing this idea btw
By all means, go ahead and steal it!
DeleteI like to find small things to compliment people on. Usually it's a girl's jewelry or scarf or something. Or someone's glasses. Or nail polish. You get the idea :) I really suck at complimenting guys, but I sometimes worry it could be taken the wrong way.
Also, my sister freaks out when people she knows don't aknowledge her in the halls at school. I think she's partially overreacting for attention, but all she wants is a smile or a "hi" as they pass her on the way to class. So make sure you say hi to people on their way to class, too :) it doesn't have to be a whole long "you're awesome" conversation. Just letting them know you saw them, recognized them, and like them enough to make the effort to say hi :)
<3 Marie-Rose
PS saying hi to people in the halls is not my strong point. I'm gonna work on it now :)