I am the stranger in the store that compliments your top or your nails. I will let you in front of me sometimes and make funny faces to distract your tired children. Going to wave you in front of me in traffic and try not to cut you off. I don’t always feel like it but I have learned it makes a difference.

Did you know that with a little searching it is fairly easy to find contact information for a local new personality, face of a local company you saw on the news that was really trying but stumbled all the way thru the interview, or the author you think is amazing but only has published a few books, short stories or fan fic? Not saying you need to stalk them (ewww please don’t), but did you ever think about just saying, hey you make me smile with my morning coffee, thanks for being you? Or hang in there! You got this? Or I cannot even tell you how many times I have re-read what you wrote.

The thing is I feel that while we may look up to people, or think their lives are more glamorous or fabulous; at the core, we are all just human. Would I like it if that happened to me? Of course I would.

The clerk at the grocery store said to me today, Oh you are here today! I am so glad I got to see you!  That gave me such a happy, I matter, feeling. Less than 20 words and I have carried that around all day like a little flame of contentment.

And again, I am not going to send Sandra Bullock or Keanu Reeves a note any time too soon, but the new local news anchor? Maybe. And yes, I have sent a few authors a note to tell them I appreciate them. Writing is a fairly solitary effort filled with self doubt (or at least I have found it that way). Maybe it gives them a smile and brightens their day.

So pay the compliment, send a note (or an email), smile at the person helping you, you will be amazed how good that feels and even better when someone does it for you.