There are times we need a little uplift.

The day was full of errands, a little of this and a little of that. So, I’m entering a busy intersection and will have to stop at a lengthy red light. I sigh an inescapable groan to myself, there he is again. The same young man is on the same island. I will be parked next to him for a few minutes. He knows how to do it well, panhandling with a smile . . . and with a Chihuahua in his arms that has a cute red neckerchief. I’m second in the row and have the car’s windows down due to my car’s AC being out.

He’s got a great smile and curly black hair to his shoulders, black beard and is dressed casual-messy. He chats with me a little and I mention his pet. I’m sure he notices I’m not offering any cash but continues to converse with me until a pickup truck pulls up behind me. He smiles at me, then as he starts to leave, he says to me, “Stay beautiful,” and down the line he goes.

He is friendlier than most, and I find myself smiling at the words he just said to me, “Stay beautiful.” I like them, of course they make me feel beautiful like I’m not in my sixties (then) and in a car that is hotter than the blazes and makes me perspire. The words are like “Take care.” But they seem better to me. I have been down in the dumps and those two words lift my spirits.

God uses people like that to cheer us up. The cashier that says, “Thank you, Miss” when you usually hear, “Thank you, Ma’am’” makes my day brighter. It’s so simple, really. The difference between Miss and Ma’am. Words and smiles, greetings and good cheer, even from a panhandler, can improve our outlook and make the day sing. “Stay beautiful, ya’ here.”

If we each would take the challenge to make the day brighter for the people we meet then we have made their day better. We look up and smile. We help carry their packages and it matters. There are a bazillion ways we can make the day better around us. The nice thing is when we help others, we make our day better. Some people do it naturally, it is part of their nature. Then others, like me, have to work at it. I tend to be way too serious. But I can smile, I can help, I can make the day go better for someone else and for myself, if I choose to. In fact, I will!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!