There is always something we can contribute, no matter how big or small.

We can easily share advice, time, a smile, or a listening ear to a friend. Over and over we will find that it is in being kind that we can make someone’s day all that much better. Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” And I don’t think anyone could’ve said it any better.

Despite the struggles of everyday life and the endless battle with school-work, there is always a reason to be kind. I can say from personal experience that you can make someone’s whole day just with a simple hello and compliment. It not only makes the person you are acknowledging feel good about themselves, but it will positively affect you too.

Everybody has something going on in their life. Everybody has bad days; and you really never know who that might be. If you’re kind to everybody‒even if it’s just helping someone with their books‒you can turn someone’s day around, even if you don’t know that you did.

Not only can being nice to someone positively affect them, but it is also good for you. It makes you feel good about yourself because you know that you made someone feel good. If you’re having a bad day, instead of taking it out on everybody else, make people happy. Trust me, it’ll make your life so much better. According to Voices Of Youth, a branch off of UNICEF to spread knowledge and ideas among young people, “Our world can never be a completely evil place, as all its inhabitants’ hearts are filled with a magical thing called kindness… if every person on this tiny dot of green in the galaxy that we call home, would simply be kind to one another, the world would be a happier place.”

According to Forbes, being kind and positive is one of the most influential behaviors you could possess. Because if you are simply nice to every single person then it will rub off on them. They will remember how that little thing you did made them feel and they will want other people to feel the way that they did. So they will pass on the kindness, then those will pass it on. And you can know that it all started with you.

Yes, there are some people that are actually annoyed with you being nice and friendly. There’s nothing you can really do about that. But don’t focus on those people; if you see someone that is obviously annoyed, then don’t keep trying. Just give them the space that they want and continue on to others.

There’s no reason not to be kind to others. Make the world better, just a little bit, with just one small act.