Flourish Fridays

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!! Life's Little Polka Dot's is proud to announce the new theme of the Friday post. Flourish Friday. That's right, Flourish. Whether we are professional planners, amateur planners or not planning anything, I think we can all agree that we can all be better people. So every Friday we will be leaving the world of event planning and focus on just plain old US. First we should probably establish what "Flourish" really means.

flour⋅ish [flur-ish, fluhr-]

1. to be successful; prosper.

2. to grow luxuriantly

3. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures

To be successful & prosper! Who doesn't want to do that!!! To grow luxuriantly! Which is roughly translated as "a richly supplied and lush growth." And I know that making dramatic, sweeping gestures is referring to doing it "with an object" but I feel encouraged to think of it as "with ourselves."

So, every Friday we will look into what it takes to flourish. One week at a time. One action at a time. Please take the challenge that I present each week and live it. Let it become part of you...

Week 1 - A Smile Can Change the World

Very few people could argue the fact, that a simple smile can change your entire mood. You could be having a really rotten day and then someone smiles at you... really smiles, and although your day won't necessarily turn full circle. It will improve. And you don't have to rely on others to do that for you. You can do that for yourself. No matter how bad you feel, smile...really smile and again, it will improve your mood. PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SURFACY, FAKE SMILES - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. To REALLY smile you have to take a minute and focus on something that REALLY makes you happy. Taking the time to think about these things are guaranteed to make you a happier person. Which will lead to more smiles...
Now, my favorite part, making it about others. What can we do for others? If this is a foreign concept to you bear with me. There is no way that you can succeed at this challenge and NOT have it change you, forever. My family has laughed at me for years; when I go into the grocery store and smile and say "Hi" to a good majority of the people that we pass. When I leave the checkout counter knowing at least one piece of personal information about the clerk. (Not always, I too have a schedule that occasionally prohibits me from "befriending" all store clerks.) I do at least always SMILE and talk nicely to them, respectfully.
So as you go into your weekend take this challenge: Smile. Smile at everyone you meet, and watch the immediate reaction to this very easy gesture. If someone is walking slowly and looking defeated, make eye contact, and smile. Watch as they will most likely straighten up and walk more briskly. You have more power than you may ever know. Lets change the world. One smile at a time!