Sometimes it’s amazing how far little gestures of kindness can go. When you are traveling, you can engage in acts of kindness easily. Hopefully you are in one of the best mindsets, moods, and are exuding nothing but joy. After all, travel is bliss and that’s the feeling you should have no matter what destination you are in. What enhances your experience even more is when you are able to share those positive vibes with others. It not only can completely change the direction of someone else’s day for the better, but in turn, rewards you without even knowing it. You know how it feels when someone compliments you about the shirt or blouse you are wearing, states how your new hair style is perfect for you or buys you a fresh cup of coffee out of nowhere? You really can’t describe the little waves of appreciation that overcome you, but it is a very welcomed feeling to say the least.
It’s a very simple concept that goes such a long way, but unfortunately, we live in such a fast pace electronics driven society that those simple little moments occur less frequently and those feelings are far and few in between. Our interaction with one another has taken a backburner to whatever is happening on social media and has made simply saying hello to someone an out of the box moment in the day. There is good news however. More and more people are realizing this and making it a point to be aware and be present in the moment they are in while making sure they are “socially available” and not closed off to the little handheld screen in front of them. The best part is that you can make a conscious effort as well to help become part of making the little moments during the day happen more frequently and happen naturally without being a thought.
There’s no better time to engage in acts of kindness than when you are traveling. You are already feeling great so just make that known. It’s not about trying to force moments or feeling like you have to spend money for gestures of kindness to be noticed. You know how a smile or laughter is infectious and affect all those around, well that fits in the same wheelhouse as a good mood and general overall happiness. Maybe keeps things like the following or similar acts of kindness in mind during your next travel adventure as well as in your everyday day life.
Compliment at Check-In
Front desk employees work around the clock at pretty much any hotel or resort that you stay at. They work very hard to keep everyone happy and for anyone that has worked in public service, this can be a challenging role. No matter what the problem is, it seems like the front desk personnel receive the brunt of all the complaints, all with a smile at that. While it is their job, it still doesn’t take away from the toll it can take on you on a daily basis. When it’s appropriate, be the one that changes the day for them. Compliment them on how nice they are, what a nice smile they have or simply that you appreciate what they are doing and that their hard work does not go unnoticed.
Toll Roads
When you are on a fun road trip, most times in many locations you will come across a toll road or a toll bridge. The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge is a perfect example. When you are paying the toll, pay double and ask the attendant to credit the car behind you so they just get waived through. You don’t need to know them and that is the entire point. It’s a simple thing like this that can change the day of the person behind you. They might be having one of the worst days, and one simple act of kindness like this can turn around their day instantly. On a funny note, be prepared for the car to try and speed up to you to see who in the world would do something so nice for a stranger. Just simply smile and wave.
Coffee Houses
This is in-line with the tolls, when you are driving through getting a coffee or even if you want a more personal touch, you can do this inside at the counter as well. When you are paying for your coffee, tell the cashier that you would like to pay for the drink for the car behind you as well. If you are inside, ask the person behind you what they are getting, order it and pay along with yours as well. Again, people are so taken back by this and it’s a moment that they will keep with them for quite some time. In turn, its things like this that get them thinking as well and spark them to do small acts of kindness along the way when they can here and there as well. Kindness is a catchy thing believe it or not.
Compliment Your Uber Driver
Uber drivers work very hard and very long hours. Yes, you may be arriving in an amazing new location to explore and have a wonderful time, but your driver is local and is in the middle of their work day. You don’t have to carry on a continuous conversation with the driver, but a nice compliment about how nice and fresh the scent in the car is or how clean the car is goes a long way. Drivers do what they can to make sure their car is in great condition and take the time, effort and money to keep it that way. So when passengers take a moment to let them know that they appreciate the effort and care taken, it means more than you know to the drivers and make their day. Maybe even throw in a tip on the app.
Pass The Bus
So you are in a fun major big city and you bought a bus pass, subway card or fantastic CityPass for the city you are exploring. You planned on being there for multiple days so you thought getting a pass that lasted or a few days would be the best way to go, and it usually is. However, for whatever reason, your plans have changed and you are no longer going to be using the pass for the last day or two that you are there. Maybe you’re touring a different area, or got tickets for something else. For whatever the reason, the pass is not going to be used, instead of just letting it go to waste and throwing it away, simply give it to someone else in the city or that is in line to get a day pass and be on your way. Wasting it is silly.
Flight Attendant Appreciation
Flight attendants deal with thousands and thousands of passengers every month and are faced with some of the most challenging scenarios and sometimes people more times than they ever should be. They work very hard to ensure that our comfort on any flight is taken care of and always do what they can to accommodate any special request that a passenger may need. When a moment arises, such as when exiting the flight, stop and say thank you for everything that they do and that you noticed what they did for a certain passenger and how nice that was. You can even take it a step further and ask at the flight desk how you can make a formal compliment with the airline so they are recognized.
Tour Guides
No matter if you are on a wilderness tour in Alaska or are touring the lush volcano islands of Hawaii, tour guides are the heartbeat of information and guiding you to and through some of the most majestic locations in the world. While most tour guides absolutely love what they do and where they are, it doesn’t hurt to show a little appreciation for them. Many times there might be a tip jar for you to add a couple dollars to show your gratitude and when and if you can, throw in a couple dollars. If that isn’t an option, maybe offer them a bottle of water that you can pick up for them when you head into the gift shop to pick up a cool souvenir.
Big City Kindness
No matter what destination you choose in the world and no matter how big or small, there are those that have not had such good fortune and may be down on their luck for the time being. If you are at a restaurant for lunch or dinner and are not able to finish your meal, try not to waste it and get the rest of it to-go. Even if you have no plans on eating it later or have nowhere to keep it refrigerated, this is when you can do the little things that matter the most. Take the to-go container and leave it on the bench by the bus stop or in the park, etc. There are plenty of people that would appreciate being able to have a few pieces of quality food to give them the encouragement they just might need.
Remember Yourself
Taking care of yourself is just as important and should not be overlooked or always put behind everyone else on the list. You have to keep the oil in the car to keep it operating smoothly and that simple concept is the same for all of us individually as humans as well. They only way you can genuinely spread happiness is to be happy yourself. So take the time to get a massage, get a pedicure, buy that special something for yourself or have a spontaneous weekend get away with just you, a cozy blanket your favorite drink and a good book. You have to revitalize and rejuvenate yourself as often as you possibly can so you are able to operate at your best and be your best.
Remember, these are just suggestions to get you own natural gestures of kindness and happiness juices flowing. Before you know it, you’ll do something and a travel companion you’re with will state, “Well that sure was nice of you”, and you’ll have to take a moment to realize what you did because things become so natural that you do them without even realizing. Most people have done acts of kindness in the past from time to time that they are simply not aware of; it’s just about keeping those moments frequent, harnessing those interactions and being present when they are happening. Who doesn’t want to live in a society like that, and when you know that you are contributing to the overall bigger picture yourself, you walk with a larger sense of personal fulfillment and overall happier aura without even realizing it all the time. Together, the impact we can have is limitless.