By Cierra Everette, Senior Editor
Have you heard of National Compliment Day?
It’s celebrated annually on January 24th! The holiday was created in 1998 by Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffyman, two New Hampshire women who wanted to spread positivity (like us!). With Martin Luther King Day and National Compliment Day celebrated within a few days of each other, this week can serve as an extra reminder to sprinkle compliments around like confetti!
Here are three ways that you can honor the spirit of both holidays this week:
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
–Leo Buscaglia (Dr. Love)
Give a Meaningful Compliment
Compliments are a quick way to brighten someone’s day. It has been shown that compliments are not only a mood booster for the recipient, but for the compliment giver as well (that’s a win-win!). However, not all compliments are created equal. In a world that is already so focused on appearances, it is important to show that you value the qualities of a person that goes beyond the surface. Need help? Think of a quality or trait that you really admire in a person. For example, “I think it’s amazing how you are able to bring positive energy into every room that you walk in.” More examples? “I love how attentive you are when you interact with the kids,” or “Watching your passion as you work towards your goal is so inspiring.” Strive to give a meaningful compliment that is not based on looks this week.
Random Act of Kindness
Do you remember the whole “pay it forward” movement? The basic concept is that by doing a random act of kindness, you have the potential to spark a whole cascade of happy vibes! Consider the good feeling that you get from buying a stranger’s coffee. Now imagine that the stranger was so touched by your generosity, that he (or she!) went on to help a stranger carry their groceries to the car, which put a smile on another stranger’s face and…well you get the picture. You never truly know what darkness someone is going through, and therefore, as Dr. Love stated above, the smallest act of caring could turn someone’s life around.
Give Your Support
When is the last time you truly gave your support? This could be to a good cause, to a message that you wholeheartedly believe in, or to a person’s goals. Co-founder Parisha Smith recently discussed how important it is to support someone without any expectation of receiving something in return. In reference to helping her daughter reach her goals, she stated “…supporting someone else is much bigger, not only to them, but it ultimately fills you up as well!”
But how do you show your support? No, a grand gesture is not the only answer. Start by reaching out to someone and ask them how you can help them achieve their goals. Alternatively, you can donate your time or resources to a cause that you believe in. Or, showing your support could be as simple as telling someone that you are rooting for their success. Giving your support to something, no matter how small the gesture, could have a lasting impact on you AND the other party involved.
Ok, Chargers! It’s up to you to uphold the vision of the do-gooders that came before us. Will you accept the challenge to spread positivity and kindness?