How To Brighten A Strangers Day And Then Yours
Lisa Thompson
Written by contributor writer Laura Horwath
Nice gestures whether small or large can make someone feel good, especially if this is someone you don’t know. Whether you wait a couple extra seconds at the bank to hold the door open for someone or you pay for the person behind you in the drive thru line at Starbucks, we can do something each day to put a smile on each other’s faces.
The Story, The Kind Gesture
A couple weeks ago, a local story went viral about a photographer named Dana Gruszynski from Bay City, Michigan, who recreated a couple’s wedding day after their hired photographer was a no-show. This photographer did not know the bride and groom at all. She heard that the photographer was a no-show and she contacted the couple to hear about their experience, found out that they were looking at hiring a wedding photography Charlottesville company, and wished to hold another day for the wedding photos to be taken. Following that meeting, she found cell phone pictures, contacted other family members to help her and literally recreated many important aspects of the wedding to surprise this bride and her new husband. She recreated the cake, bouquet, decorations and other details made this surprise even more special for the newlyweds.
After I read this story, I was in tears, you will be too after you read her blog post with the whole story. This story just shows how giving a selfless act can really make someone else’s life better. You can truly see the passion that she has for creating memories through photography and that she truly wants to help people.
What Can You Do?
This holiday season and moving forward, think about how the smallest gestures can make someone’s day. Think about how you could be the person to help someone. This story made me realize that being thankful is a huge part of making others feel good. I am thankful that I have the ability to help them but I also realize they are just as thankful for the kind gestures. After you hold the door for someone, seeing that smile on their face doesn’t just make them feel good, it makes you feel good too. Knowing that you may have given someone an extra pep in their step that day is very humbling. Be thankful for what you have and let’s try to do something nice for a stranger each day (monetary value optional) and see the positive impact it can have on us!
