Ever have a negative interaction with someone that TOTALLY ruins your day? Yeah, us too! The way you treat people in every piece of every day has a direct impact on how they're feeling about themselves. That's why we believe that the greatest changes happen right here, with you and your interactions with other people. We don't really think about it, but genuine kindness can help someone feel supported, boost their confidence and generally give them that happy feeling inside.

Here are 5 simple things you can do right now to make someone else's day just a little bit brighter. 

1. Just Say Hi:  Passing a stranger in the grocery aisle? Make eye contact and smile. Ordering your morning coffee? Ask the barista how their day is going. Everyone is fighting their own battle and when you're having a really rough day, even the simple acknowledgement from someone else can help make it just a little brighter. 

2. Check-In With An Old Friend: Taking a moment to be thoughtful is something that will never go out of style. Take 2 minutes out of your day to touch base with someone you haven't talked to in awhile. You never know what they're going through and something as simple as a little 'hello, how're you?' can really go a long way. 

3. Hold the Door Open: When it comes to polite gestures, there's nothing more classic than holding the door open. It may sound silly, but the act of going out of your way to make something just a little easier for someone else is meaningful. 

4. Send a Card, Just Because: There's nothing more personal than a handwritten note, especially when it's received unexpectedly. Find an excuse to put that adorable new stationery to work and write a letter - to a friend, to a colleague, to a random person from the internet you're looking forge a relationship with; doesn't matter, just DO IT. You'll be happy you did. 

5. Show Empathy and Speak Up: Last week I was at the grocery store with my two-year old daughter (Lily) who has a complete meltdown in the checkout lane. Everyone is staring, Lily is literally chucking her shoes and screaming bloody murder, the cashier is clearly frustrated and I'm just trying to pay so I can get out. Out of nowhere another mom steps up, picks up Lily's shoes and hands her a balloon that her own daughter was playing with. I didn't know this woman, but having clearly been in this situation she took it upon herself to help out. Because of her, everyone calmed down and it was back to business as usual. It made me realize how easy it is to turn your head in those situations, but when you step up, speak up and go out of your way to help out it really goes a LONG day! 

(photo credit: Katie Sapp, @katiemsapp)