Do you like to provoke giggles, chuckles, and smiles in your close friends or loved ones? If so, you’re in the right place! Here are six simple ways to make someone smile today:
1. Surprise someone with a random kind act.
The First Rule of Surprises: they cannot be obvious or forced–that is why it is called a “surprise”. Be creative. You could ask a friend what theme park they enjoyed most as a child, then surprise them with tickets for a weekend visit. You could find out their biggest celebrity crush as a teen, and surprise them with a cute (corny?) poster displaying their cherished one. Or you could just buy a ridiculous gag gift that you know is guaranteed to make them laugh.
2. Compliment a co-worker’s cute haircut, new outfit, or confident posture.
Nothing makes people smile like receiving encouraging compliments…and work isn’t always the most exciting place to be. So why not brighten your days with a little positive energy? Don’t invent praise out of thin air, because you won’t fool anybody. Do point out the things you like about other people’s personalities and appearances.
3. Buy a friend that book/movie they keep saying they want to read/watch, but never actually do.
They will appreciate the thought (and, as an added bonus, they will finally stop talking about doing the thing, and just do it already).
4. Kiss your partner out of the blue (seriously, right now if they’re in the room!).
Touch is my strongest sense, and I have to admit that I can get a little antsy without the occasional cuddle or kiss. By the way, I’m not kidding with that header up there–if your loved one is in the room right now, go kiss them without warning. I’ll still be here when you get back…promise! Physical contact is a great way to express love and appreciation for your partner, so please do more of that (I hope their reaction is priceless).
5. Play a fun game with your children (human or otherwise).
Confession: I am as child-like as it gets (for a “grown up”). I say this, because I still enjoy playing games like Hide-and-Seek or having water-gun fights with my cousins, and all kinds of things people might call, “silly”. Spending time with my cousins is a huge emotional outlet for me, because it’s awfully easy to become suffocated in our “grown-up” shells. It’s easy to forget how much freedom comes from doing something so fun that you forget about the world and all of its problems.
Have kids? Hop, skip, jump rope, go to the park, or maybe even play some laser-tag.
Pet owner? Play fetch, or you could just take your pooch on a walk (my puppy-daughter’s favorite activity).
On your own? Climb a tree, take a hike, go bowling, spend time with young family members, or join a sporting league.
6. Is anyone else in the room with you right now? If so, tell them a fun joke. If not, watch this video.
If you don’t have a joke, here’s a bad one that you are free to borrow (when I say “bad,” I mean REALLY bad!).
“What did Batman say to Robin before he got in the car?”
“Robin, get in the car.”
Ba dum chhh!!!
(That was supposed to be the drum noise that comes after jokes just in case you didn’t get that.)
I told you it was gonna be bad! To make up for it, here’s an adorable video that will definitely make you smile.
If you know a good joke (hopefully better than mine), leave it in the comments. Vote for your favorites by clicking the *like* button. And please share this article with your friends. I hope it gives them a reason to smile. :)
Featured photo credit: Smile [94]/suvival198 via flickr.com
