Smiles

For my main job, I work in Downtown Salt Lake for Deseret Digital Media.
It's a pretty sweet job.
I sit at a computer and test various websites for them.
And that's about as far into my job description as I'm going to go, because most people get bored or don't understand what I'm talking about.
But I'm currently working on this site.
It's a place where people like you and me can rate movies we've seen, this way we don't have to wholly depend on the MPAA ratings.
I think it's a pretty cool site.

Anyway, for work every morning my mom drops me off at the Trax station.
I then take the train to work because I don't have a car of my own.
Taking public transportation is an extremely eye opening experience.
You see people from every walk of life on those things.
And you get to eavesdrop on some completely random and often bizarre conversations.

But I've noticed that there are mainly two different types of people on the train.
The first type belongs to those who talk to anyone and everyone they are sitting next to.
The second, and more common, belongs to those who are either reading or have headphones in trying to drown out the world.
I belong to the second group.
I pick a seat right next to a window, put everything on my lap, pull out a book, and enter a different world.

However, one morning I was running late and forgot to grab my book, so I did the next best thing.
I decided to simply people watch.
Most of the people were completely absorbed in a book, their music, or the outside scenery,
But every once in a while I would make eye contact with someone.
I would then smile politely and look away.

As I looked around I made eye contact with a boy with down syndrome.
When I smiled at him, he gave me one of those ear to ear grins.
You know, those smiles where someone's whole being brightens up?
Where you can see the light of pure joy in their eyes?
That's the kind of smile he gave me.
And at that moment I knew I was going to have a good day.

It may have been something small and seemingly insignificant, but it made a big impact on me.
I'm a believer that small acts of kindness can change lives.
So go out and take the time to truly smile at someone.
Let the light shine through your eyes.

Go out and make the world a little better.

Olive Garden

Currently I'm working two jobs to save for school.

For my second job I work as a hostess at Olive Garden.

And let me tell you, nothing can make you lose faith in humanity faster than working in the food industry.

People tend to get cranky when it comes to food.

But they never cease to amaze me.

One night I was standing up at the host stand talking to my coworker.

We were waiting for a table to be cleaned off so that we could seat the next couple.

As we were waiting, a man that had already been seated came up and asked if he could talk to us.

Naturally, I assumed something was wrong.

Because that's the main reason people talk to us after they've already been seated.

Either that or they want to know where the bathroom is.

But as I was standing there expecting the worst, 

This man pointed to an elderly couple that was eating and asked if he could pay for their dinner.

I was completely blown away.

I had heard of this stuff happening, but had never actually seen it happen before.

He gave my coworker his credit card, paid for their food, and then left.

I never got to see the look on the couples' faces when they found out their dinner had been paid for,

And I don't know what happened to the man that paid,

But it turned my whole day around.

One day I hope to be able to do that to someone else.

Go out and make the world a little better.

Pilot

I am jumping on the band wagon and starting a blog.

This is my first blog post ever!

Well, actually I think I had one in high school, but that doesn't count. Does it?

Because I don't think it should.

And I really hope that has been deleted forever...

But I digress.

I want this to be somewhere people can come to hear stories that restore their faith in humanity.

Somewhere with feel good stories.

You know those nice things you see people do for someone else?

Or maybe the kind things you do for others?

Those kinds of stories.

Maybe I'll even throw in a funny story or seven.

(Because who doesn't like a funny story?)

Anyway, that's my goal.

Have a great day!

Go out and make the world a little better.