Relocating from one state to another is a great way to experience other lifestyles. Moving from rural Colorado to rural Idaho doesn’t seem like it would be much of a change but mountain culture vs. farming culture is vastly different. One of my favorite ways to get to know an area is via my daily run. The plants, the animals, the way yards are decorated, the signs (welcoming or warning), the way people drive…these are all indicative of a town’s personality. Of all the differences I’ve noted so far, one stands out above the rest. No one waves.
In Colorado I waved at everyone, everyone waved at me. It wasn’t something I ever thought about, it’s just how it was. So as I’m running down the rural roads of Idaho, I’m very aware that no one is waving. My impulse reaction is to conform. Do as they do, just look straight ahead and keep to myself. But waving and smiling feels good, making a concerted effort not to, does not. So on my next run I decided, screw conformity, I will wave at whomever I want. And so I waved and smiled at everyone. The result of my decision delighted me. Almost everyone waved back. While some looked genuinely uncomfortable at the raise of their hand, others offered an enthusiastic return. It felt so good to offer up a smile and receive a smile in return.
I believe that this simple expression of positivity has far-reaching effects. We all release energy in to the world, it’s up to us to decide if we want that energy to be positively or negatively charged. Smiling feels good, it evokes happiness. If my smile and wave of a hand creates a smile in another, maybe they will pass it along. We are all a mirror for each other, exchanging energy with every interaction. In my experience, negative energy always carries more weight, it’s always the dominating force.
BUT IF YOU ARE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SHARE YOUR POSITIVITY RATHER THAN ACCEPT OTHER’S NEGATIVITY, YOU HAVE THE ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER. THAT NOT ONLY MAKES YOU THE SOLE-PROPRIETOR OF YOUR HAPPINESS BUT ALSO THE CREATOR OF HAPPINESS IN OTHERS.
Why let others bring you down when you have the power to bring them up? Through simple acts of kindness, we have the ability to change the world.
