Today, March 13th, is National Good Samaritan Day. According to good old Google, a Samaritan is "a charitable or helpful person," referencing the Biblical story in Luke 10. This parable, although a common one now, was really uncomfortable for those who heard it at the time. Essentially, a guy asked Jesus what he had to do to get into heaven, and Jesus told him to love God and to love his neighbor. This dude, getting a little nit-picky (as we humans are prone to do), wanted Jesus to define exactly who his neighbor was. And because Jesus is a total rockstar, He flipped the question and told a parable to let the man figure it out for himself.
The road the injured man was lying on was narrow – a priest and a Levite, the two supposedly "better thans" in that society, literally stepped over an injured and half-dead man. But then a Samaritan, an outcast, stopped, put the man on his own donkey, and put him up in an inn while recuperating, then covered his medical bills. The neighbors we need to love won't always be half-dead on paths in front of us. They might look like the one super-chatty kid in Sunday school who never stops talking, but we need to love anyway. They might be our parents and siblings who just annoyed or hurt us, but we need to love them anyway. They might be just be the person behind us in line for coffee that we never thought to smile at. With that in mind, here are 13 super simple ways to show be a Good Samaritan/nice human to the people around you. 1. Pay for the person behind you. Whether it's a coffee, a Happy Meal, or groceries, it can make someone's day in an instant (and sometimes inspires them to start a chain of kindness!) 2. Like every photo on your Instagram feed. Okay, yes, this one is super corny, but it's a really easy way to make someone feel a little better about their sunset or selfie post. It takes less than a second to double-tap and can be a nice gesture. 3. Leave a tip. This is a particularly nice one for baristas or waitresses on a busy day (or any day). 4. Say please and thank you (and smile a little, would ya?). It really is the little things, y'all – use your manners :) 5. Hold the door for the person behind you. It takes an extra 3 seconds and almost everyone will appreciate it, whether or not they express that verbally. 6. Hand-write a "thinking of you" card. You don't need a reason, it doesn't have to be a special occasion – take 5 minutes and drop a note to a friend "just because" so they have something to open besides bills and coupons. 7. Send an encouraging text/Snapchat. Or, *gasp* make a phone call. Remind your best friend that she is a rockstar, tell your parent or guardian why you specifically appreciate him/her, or leave a voicemail telling your grandparents how cool they are. This will take 30 seconds and is a guaranteed way to improve even the crappiest of days. 8. Pick up something (or someone). Going grocery shopping? Ask your neighbor if she needs a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. Have a car on campus? Message a freshman and ask if they want to run errands or if they need a ride somewhere. 9. Learn someone's Love Language and express it. People receive love through quality time, acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation, and/or physical touch. Grab coffee with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Do a load of laundry or clean the kitchen for your parent/significant other. Pick up a small item for someone just because it reminds you of them. Look someone in the eye and tell them why you appreciate them. Hug your spouse/sibling. Rinse and repeat. 10. Leave a note in a book you read when you return it. Stick a post-it or an index card somewhere in a book you borrow from the library or from a friend. It can be as simple as a smiley face or as personal as a prayer, but leave a fun surprise for the next reader :) 11. Compliment a stranger. Yeah, it can be awkward and you should obviously use discernment (for example, telling a women walking on a dark, lonely street that she has a wonderful dress on may not be taken well). But take 3 seconds to look up from your phone/book/homework to tell someone that their shoes are great or that you love how their hair looks. 12. Do something pro-bono. Offer to watch your neighbor's kids so she can get out of the house by herself for an hour. Shovel someone's driveway or *carefully* scrape ice off of their windshield. Drop off a casserole (or Chinese take-out) for someone. 13. Ask how you can help. When all else fails, use your words and just ask how you can make someone's day better. You'd be surprised how much something little you can offer can impact someone.
0 Comments
Have you ever had one of those days where you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, grumpy even though you got enough sleep or didn't hit snooze? Or maybe you've had a morning where everything annoys you, even though the conversations, lines at the dining hall, and people in your classes are the same as they always are? Because dude, same (and my bed is up against a wall, so waking up on the wrong side of it is quite the feat).
I have had people comment on my smile, positivity, and overall happiness level for years. I consider myself incredibly blessed to have resting nice face, which means my default facial expression tends to be smiling (if I'm nervous, I'm still probably smiling). However, I definitely have days/weeks/months where finding a reason to be happy is difficult and I struggle to reset my mood.* Here are a few of the steps that I go through to try to get my day back on track, even after getting into a funk. Do a check-in: Is there an easily identifiable reason that you're feeling blah (dehydrated, tired, overwhelmed)? Can you fix that (drink water, take a nap, prioritize or say no to something)? Process through things: Depending on your MBTI type, you'll have different ways of sorting through your emotions. As an ISFJ, I demonstrate extraverted feeling, which means I externally sort through what I'm feeling. I need to journal, phone a friend, or vent to my mom before I'm able to truly understand how I'm feeling. Whether you internally reflect or externally deflect your emotions, giving myself the time, space, and permission to do that is vital. Trust me - ignoring your feelings is so not the way to go. Encourage someone else: On some of my worst days last semester, I sat down at my desk and wrote a friend a letter or note of encouragement. Focusing on the little things about another person helped get my mind off of my own problems. (As a bonus, I messaged my friends' friends or family members to get their mailing addresses so it would be a surprise). If you're not into writing notes, take the time to call someone you haven't talked to in a while or to send a text to your best friend. Treat yo self: Grab a drink from Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop. Make a cup of tea in your dorm room. Buy the book you've had your eye on. Put on your favorite t-shirt, wear a nice dress, or do your makeup for no reason at all. Alternatively, put on fuzzy socks or pajama pants at 3 p.m., go to bed early, put homework on pause, watch the latest episode of whatever on Netflix. Randomly doodle. Eat some chocolate or fruit snacks or cereal. Give yourself permission to take a breath. Organize something (or everything): Maybe this is just me, but when I'm stressed, sad, or bored, I clean. Like, a lot. I love reorganizing dresser drawers, sorting through my desk, or doing something as simple as making my bed. Even if you're not super into cleaning, doing a "productive task" like laundry or washing dishes can make your space feel less cluttered, check something off your to-do list, and give your mind a break. Make lists: I think we've established that I'm a little bit quirky when it comes to being organized, but one of the top sources of stress for me comes from being overwhelmed by everything I have to do. Taking a minute to sit down and write out everything I'm worried about or need to get done (and then figuring out a way to accomplish that) is super helpful. Making a list also lets you see that some of the big things can be pushed off until later or aren't as intimidating as you thought. Count blessings, not problems: Corny? Yes. Helpful? Yup yup. Take 60 seconds and write as many things that you are thankful for as you can. Make a list of all the people in your life who make things a little bit better. Think about all of the little things that make you happy (drawing, reading, writing, Jesus, family, cute kids, coffee) and see if there's one or two you can do at that moment to help make the day better. Do a happiness challenge: Last semester, my aunt died unexpectedly 3 days after I got to college. One of my friends suggested that I do the #100HappyDays challenge on Instagram, so I tried it out. Basically, I posted a picture every single day for 100 days of something in that day that made me happy. (If you're not into Instagram, a gratitude journal works really well!) 2 days into the challenge I ended up in the ER with a stomach bug on the first night of classes, 2 weeks later my friend's mom died, the next week a high school classmate passed away, and I dealt with some difficult friend situations ... all before day 50. Trust me, I know not every day is a happy one. However, forcing myself to find something happy that was as small as a plant in my room, changing leaves during the fall, or a beautiful sunset was so incredibly helpful. Get on (or off) social media: Pinterest is my go-to happiness site. I look up cheesy quotes, read through MBTI information, find new books to read, or type in "Hamilton funny" - trust me, that's great for laughs. However, scrolling through Instagram and seeing everybody's highlights makes me feel even worse about my own "down day." Pick your battles, know yourself, and decide whether you should turn off your phone. Listen to music: If you have a favorite song, artist, or album, put it on. Listen to a happy station on Pandora or Spotify, turn on the radio in the car, or pull out an instrument and make your own music. (Bethel Music and Sleeping at Last are two of my go-to's; I typically joke to friends that if Hamilton can't cheer me up, then something is seriously wrong). Exercise and/or spend time outside: You don't have to go for a 90 minute run or lift 200lbs to use endorphins to boost your mood. Take a walk around campus, do some yoga in your dorm room. (Be mindful of the fact that there is such a thing as exercising too much and that using exercise to manipulate your mood can lead to controlling or obsessive behavior). If exercising to improve your mood isn't healthy for you, find some nature and get into it. There's a pond by the chapel on Ithaca's campus and it's the first place I go if I need some peace and quiet (and it almost always cheers me up a bit). Take time to connect with something or someone: If you're having a difficult day, it can be tough to reach out and lean on someone else. If you can't bring yourself to lean on someone human, take the time to connect with something less temporary. The peace I have found in Christ is so indescribable and His acceptance of me, even at my most broken moments, is incredible. Prayer and meditation are two wonderful ways to bring some calm into crazy situations. Give yourself grace: As much as I'd love to say I have this happiness thing on lock, I still struggle with this and tend to beat myself up if I'm not feeling happy. Hormones, school and life stress, pain and loss, and other factors outside of our control happen and can make life really, really difficult. If that is the case, it is completely fine. Sometimes, the best way to have a great day is to give yourself permission to have a good cry and remember that tomorrow (and the next day and the next day) is a new day <3 *Disclaimer: I both recognize and respect that there is a huge difference between waking up on the wrong side of the bed and waking up with a mental illness. I do not want to trivialize or explain away the struggles of someone suffering from anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, or anything else. Happiness is not always a choice and may require counseling or medication to obtain. If you're struggling, please please please reach out to those around you to seek help and support <3* Hi, my name is Liz and I am a person who strives for perfection. I want to be the best student, daughter, friend, athlete, and sibling possible. I want to be the do-it-all girl with great abs, white teeth, and flawless skin. I want to be patient but driven, honest but supportive, strong but vulnerable, and a whole other list of contradictory adjectives. For the last 5 years, I've spent New Year's Eve writing page-long lists of the ways that I can become as close to perfect as possible, trying to ignore the small voice at the back of my mind telling me that it's so likely that I'll fail.
This year, I spent the days leading up to January 1st reflecting, praying, journaling, and trying to come up with the best possible resolution. Instead of a page or paragraph or sentence, I came up with one simple word: kind. I want to be as kind to others as possible, even in the really difficult moments. I want to take the time to really listen when I ask someone how they are. I want to spend the money to pay for someone else's coffee. I want to hear someone else's opinion without shutting them down, even if I don't agree with it. I want to show love to anyone and everyone, even if I don't agree with or understand everything about them. I want to be as kind to myself as possible, even in the really difficult moments. I want to look in the mirror with nothing but respect for the reflection that is there. I want to drink water and eat nutritious food and exercise without feeling guilty if I want to eat dessert too. I want to read books and play music and spend time praying or meditating or journaling or just sitting in silence without scrambling to check off a box on my to-do list. Kind is an intention I know I won't demonstrate all of the time. I'll have human moments filled with frustration or selfishness or pride or any other combination of emotions that I know shouldn't be there but still are. I'll get irritated or sad and forget to love on other people. In those moments, I want to be kind to myself even when I'm not kind at all, reminding myself that there is space for grace in any situation. Then, I'll get right back to trying to love other people with my flawed but forgiven heart. Do you have a resolution for 2018? How do you stay on track with your goals? |
LizWriting, running, reading, and keeping it real along the way. Archives
February 2022
Categories
All
|