The other day I was going about what I thought was my rather mundane life. Nothing special. No one to impress, no reason or desire to look nice or be nice to anyone in particular. I don't have much of a social group, no boyfriend, or employer who needs me to be pretty and presentable. Just me. As I was checking out at the store, I made an effort to smile at the cashier. As she was going about her life however mundane or exciting it was to her, she smiled back at me and said "Your hair is beautiful." in such a sincere way that my smile suddenly became effortless as I said, "thank you." It was a simple thing she said in passing but I walked away smiling and feeling about ten times prettier than I had two minutes before. I doubt she thought much about her compliment; just a thought crossing her mind that she chose to say out loud. She will never know the affect it had on me for the rest of day. It was a ray of sunlight; a splash of color in my otherwise gray day. I often hear motivational talk about smiling and complimenting others going a long way. I never understood that much till now. Maybe I still don't.
The holiday season is busy and expensive. Its a time of giving and getting and plan making and spending. Remember that a midst the commercial craziness of the season that kindness is priceless and nothing shines brighter or warms the heart more than the goodness of your own heart. Its the people in our lives and the love in our hearts that make the holidays what they should be. Christmas doesn't come from a store. Christmas means a little bit more.
