You are very pretty

Today I was rushing around to get a gift for a friend's daughter. I was in my own world and speedwalking through the mall crowds to get to the store I needed. Once there, the line had about 14 people in it but just one cashier. People were moaning and groaning around me, which was making me want to join in to moan and grown at how slow the line was moving.

After I finally got what I needed I essentially sprinted through the store, trying to make up for the half hour I'd wasted in line. Partway through the store, I heard something that stopped me. A little voice that said "You are very pretty". I had no idea who it was or who they were talking to, but for some reason I slowed and turned. There in the aisle behind me was a little girl, probably 13 years old with gorgeous red hair, in a wheel chair. When I turned around, she looked straight at me and repeated it: "You are very pretty". I melted. Here I am rushing around not taking time to appreciate anything around me, and this little girl was trying to catch up with me just to pay me a compliment. I smiled and thanked her, and let her know that she, too, was very pretty. She smiled. I went on my way - in an infinitely better mood than when I was standing in line moments before.

It is amazing to me how much of our mood and emotion comes from those we come in contact with. Standing with negativity in line for a half hour translated to my mood being negative. Sharing a smile with a little girl made my whole mood change.

If that is all it takes - a quick smile, or compliment, or helping hand - to change those around us, why don't more of us do it? Why do we wait for others to influence how we feel, instead of taking charge and setting the mood ourselves for those around us?

Try giving out random compliments this week and see what happens. Maybe you'll change someone's whole day, like that little girl did for me.