Surprises

There is something just charming and lovable about surprises (referring the good ones of course!).  Its nice to surprise people, to watch the reaction and observe how they respond.  You might have surprised someone in the family or your friends but have you ever tried surprising who are just acquaintances? How about random strangers who might have helped you? (OK may be not if they look scary or dangerous - looks can be deceiving, I know but better safe than sorry right :P)

Try This: 

Surprise someone, do something nice impulsively (you will surprise yourself even) and I'm not talking about family or close friends.  Try surprising someone who would never expect a surprise from you - a colleague, acquaintance, someone who helps you with direction maybe or a teacher - basically someone who you would generally not think of surprising.  

Surprises don't always come gift wrapped.  When I say surprise I don't mean buying expense gifts or taking them out to dinner or something lavish. These random people are the ones who will NEVER expect a surprise from you.  Surprise them may be by helping with something - you might have to out of your way to make it special, or may be a hug (this is fine if you know it won't be taken in any other way :P) if its someone random like the person who helped you with directions - say thank you like you  truly mean it and you would have been lost forever if it weren't for them.  When you help someone or someone helps you 'Thanks / Thank You' just seems like a reflex action and not like you are really genuinely thankful. We are being polite but that's about it. So its worth spending that 1-2 extra minutes to thank the person.  That person and you will both depart with a smile on the faces and a little warmth in the heart.

During weekdays most people who work spend at-least 50% of the waking time at work and that's the least. I'm sure some might spend more even (read workaholics)  despite spending so much time at work sometimes you don't really know your teammates (if it is intentional it might be fine and the distance must be respected) but very few people really know about whats really happening in their co-worker's life.  I know some can be extremely boring or obnoxious or rude or mean or even really extra sweet and give you a feeling of diabetes still there's a way you can surprise them.  You must may be just once a year.  Pleasantly surprise them with something, could be work or a treat or just a casual chat at the coffee machine.  But there is always something to surprise them with and when you do, you will find that warm fuzzy feeling inside :) 

Ever thought about thanking the door man or the lift operator or the sweeper or the waterboy or the cleaning lady? We think they are being paid and they are just doing their job but everybody needs some sort of recognition something positive to motivate and look forward to doing the same thing day in and day out.  Even a kind word might work for them or may be a surprise early bonus around festivals or anything that would make them feel good.  Just a random act, not something you would be expected to do everyday but something to make them feel that they are also doing something important.

Why do it?

To find that warm 'feel good' feeling more often than we usually do. Seeing that unexpected smile, the little bit of unexpected happiness in someone will make you happy too and its such a great feeling!  Lots of bad things happen everyday and we need to stay positive and happy. Staying positive does not mean over looking the bad bits but trying to better things. Its these little things that you can do to make someone's day special. You know the feeling when you get a good surprise - you love it!  Its even better when shared with someone.  Knowing how they are feeling and knowing you are the reason for it sort of amplifies the excitement.  Its like the moment you see a child opening their present.  You know what's inside and you might have only imagined what the moment would be like, but its only when they open the present you can actually feel it too.  Another thing this will do is you start thinking about making someone happy - someone, other than you. You learn to be creative and more impulsive. 

There might be people who say they don't like surprises but I don't believe that's true.  A good surprise is something anybody would love. So, go ahead spread a smile, make someone happy :)