When Darren and Tori moved into the house next door to Josh and Edie they had no idea how wonderful their new neighbors would turn out to be. Right from the beginning, Josh and Edie introduced themselves with a plate of food. They would invite Darren, Tori, and their kids over every time they had a family party and they always sent them home with leftovers. If Darren accidentally left the garage door open at night, Josh would walk over and let him know. If Tori was carrying in a carload of groceries Edie would send her son to help. Sometimes Josh would mow both front lawns instead of just his own. Inspired by the hospitality of their neighbors, Darren and Tori soon reciprocated by sending their own plates of food and desserts next door, mowing both lawns, receiving packages when needed, and feeding the cat when their neighbors were on vacation.
Kindness spreads. If Josh and Edie would have kept to themselves and only waved once in awhile their new neighbors would have done the same. Instead they took the opportunity to be kind and it paid off. Both sets of neighbors gained friends. We do what we practice and the skills we practice are the ones we improve. Practicing kindness does not have to be complicated. Simply help someone when you see they need it or give them something they were not expecting. Watch out for others instead of walking on by, and do not be afraid to stand on the side of what is right.
Try to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know or someone you don’t know well. It is usually easier than you think. Talk about the weather if you can’t think of anything else and be sure to tune in to possible opportunities. For example, while walking at the state fair I overheard a group of women harassing one of the ladies in their group for being the only one who had not seen anyone she knew when they all had. I stepped in and said, “I can help with that!” I held out my hand and introduced myself. She looked kinda confused so I added, “What’s your name?” She answered, “Whitney.” I told her, “Problem solved. Now you’ve seen someone you knew at the fair.” The other ladies laughed. As I walked away I heard one of them say, “That was really cool.”
Most people are really cool if you treat them well; don’t be afraid to interact a bit. Practicing quality communication skills can help you build your confidence and improve your current relationships. Listening to many different people has helped me learn to pick up on subtle cues being given by those around me. Find a way to interact with someone and see how it makes both of you feel.