Like It's Your Birthday!

One of my friends made a comment the other day that has been in the back of my mind all week. She said, “Imagine how much happier the world would be if we treated everyone like it was their birthday, like they were a celebrity.” Of course, this idea doesn’t mean driving our friends around in limousines or baking them a birthday cake every day, but I love this general concept. For me, this idea means hugging a little more, gifting a little more, and making each other feel a little more special in general.If you read my recent blog post about my new experiment, I’ve already gained a significant amount of happiness from getting a gift for someone every time I buy something. But it’s not about making myself happy—it’s about passing that happiness on to someone else. For example, I bought a Jamba Juice last week and I also bought a KIND bar for my roommate, letting her know what a “KIND” friend she is. She seemed to really enjoy it and seeing a friend get a smile (especially when she wasn’t expecting that kind of a surprise, even when it was small) really made my day. I think it’s these kinds of “birthday acts” that build stronger friendships and stronger people.You don’t have to blatantly celebrate someone on a daily basis but even subtle acts can have a tremendous impact. In fact, it’s often the surprises that make people feel special. Just giving someone a hug or leaving them a complimentary post it when they’re not expecting it can be a friendly reminder that they are loved. We don’t necessarily need this affirmation from the people we love but it truly can make all the difference between mediocrity and true happiness.Live alongside, laugh with, and love on your friends and family as much as you can!Keep shining,The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook