There is a woman I run into on a regular basis who drives me crazy. She is always happy. I mean always.
She teaches a Zumba exercise class, so for a while I thought maybe she was happy all the time because of all of the endorphins she has streaming through her body.
Then she let me in on her secret. She is the founder of a secret society of people who are extremely wealthy in the areas of joy, happiness, contentment, fulfillment and peace. They call themselves the Day Makers.
A Day Maker makes a conscious effort every day to create interactions with people that will change that person’s day in a positive way. Instead of the innate “What’s in it for me? How does this affect me?” attitude, Day Makers focus and think about how they physically, emotionally or spiritually can change the other person’s day.
Here are the keys principles:
- Focus on using talents, gifts and possessions to meet another person’s needs.
- Plan detailed praise, and deliver it.
- Take the time to listen to people, look them in the eye and absorb their thoughts.
- Communicate openly and honestly.
- Ask people what makes them feel good, and do those things regularly for them.
- Forgive quickly.
- Love people recklessly by putting reason, fear of getting hurt and justification aside.
- Perhaps most importantly, flip the switch from thinking “me, me, me” to thinking “you, you, you.”
There seem to be more people in this Day Maker society than we might realize.
Like the person who made Betty and Jan’s day:
“About a month ago my mom and I went to Perkins in Fargo for something to eat. We had a great breakfast. My mom couldn’t finish her muffin, so when our waitress came by, I asked her for a box. At the same time I asked for our bill, and she informed us that it had been taken care of by an anonymous patron.
“My mom and I were both in total shock. I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to that person or people. As I said, I was so surprised I forgot to tell the waitress to give them our ‘thank you,’ so hopefully they will see this message. It was a delightful treat.”
Here are a few more people who fall into the Day Maker category:
“I am an 86-year-old woman who recently decided I really needed to go to the grocery store. When I came out with my loaded cart, a lady helped me put it in my van, complimented me on my outfit and put the cart away for me.
“When I got home to my senior living apartment, a man helped me unload the groceries. He put them in a cart by the elevator while I put my car away.
“Later that afternoon, one of my neighbors gave me a beautiful item she had sewn. These are the kind of acts that prove we indeed have wonderful people in the Fargo-Moorhead area.”
Keep an eye out for people who are unusually happy. You may be lucky enough to have a Day Maker in your presence.
Please continue to share your stories of kindness with me at nphillips15@
hotmail.com. Or send a letter to Kindness is Contagious c/o Nicole Phillips, The Forum, 101 5th St. N., Box 2020, Fargo, ND, 58107.
Nicole Phillips is a former television anchor for Fox News in Fargo, and currently the executive director of Diva Connection Foundation. She is the mother of three kids and the wife of Bison men’s head basketball coach Saul Phillips. Her columns run every Saturday.
