Conscious acts of kindness.

Isn't it funny how the teeniest, tiniest thing can completely make your day?

Like a silly smile.

(or two.)

Or a dogs-eating-an-ice-cream-cone video on YouTube or facebook.

Or a handul of kind words.

I've always said I could live for a week off of one good compliment, and I got one this past Tuesday.

You see, I got a new comment on a blog post that was about five years old. When I saw it in my email alerts, (I get those whenever I get a blog comment) I assumed it was one of those annoying Spammers that put all that jibberish or nasty stuff online, so I opened it up right away. (Even if no one is reading my old posts and comments from five years ago, I don't want that garbage on there.)

Anyway, it wasn't a Spammer. It was a very nice, incredibly touching comment from a guy named Ken.

You see, Ken is a fairly new Toastmaster in a town or city somewhere out there, and he was researching for his first big speech, which, in Toastmaster Clubs, is called, "The Icebreaker" speech.

Well, when Ken googled whatever he googled, he ended up on my old blogpost, and he read it. He felt compelled to comment, and well..that little comment was so kind, and sweet, and so what I was needing to hear at that very moment, that I found myself all teary-eyed right there at my work desk.(It's been an extra tough week at work, what can I say?)

Here is what my new cyber-friend Ken said:

Kind, and sweet, and fabulous, right?

I know.

Knowing that someone really identifies with me, or feels "drawn in" by what I write...it's like...wow.

While I am basking in the glow of Ken's flattering comment, I realize that it takes only a moment to make someones day..or week.

To give a heartfelt compliment, to leave a post-it note on someone's computer screen at work, or a scribbled sharpie marker message on the bathroom mirror (that's one of my favorite do-it-when-he's-not-expecting-it things, and I like to use song lyrics...) or shoot a quick atta-girl email to a friend, or any other random act of kindness, takes only a moment, and yet, it can be the absolute highlight of their week.

Thanks Ken, for giving me that lovely present of your kind words, and even more, for inspiring me to make it a point to brighten somebody's day, every day.