Say Something Nice Day

Has anyone told you that you have great taste in selecting blogs to read? Well, evidently you do, you’re perusing this page right now. I hope that sincere compliment gave you a warm fuzzy or two. It felt good writing those words because I meant them.

A heartfelt compliment is a good way to celebrate National Say Something Nice Day. This is one of those unofficial holidays that should be made official. It would be great if each June 1st was a red-letter day on the calendar.

The concept is to remind us that when we are kind to each other, we enhance interpersonal communication and enrich our lives. When we spread happiness, joy, and gratitude, we receive positivity in return whether from others or from within. It’s a matter of mutual interpersonal enrichment. Life is a little better when we sincerely remind someone else of one of their attributes.

This year, we also remember to say something nice to service providers who have been keeping society going during these difficult times of the pandemic. It’s good to publicly thank medical professionals, emergency personnel,  grocery store employees, the mail delivery people and other shipping workers. There are many people who have kept civilization humming–those who we might otherwise take for granted. When we encounter them, it might boost their morale if we express our appreciation of them. These days, they’re performing above and beyond their normal responsibilities.

This unofficial holiday is not meant to gloss over the lack of kindness or outright cruelty done to other people. The concept of saying something nice also encompasses speaking up to advocate for the victims of bullying, crime, and other acts of unkindness to other people. The intent is to counter today’s blatant deficit of politeness and the abundance of crudity that dominates social intercourse these days. Speaking up in support of the downtrodden is truly saying something nice.

With this attitude in mind, today is a good opportunity to apologize to anyone we may have wronged because of something we said or due to our behavior towards them. If it is appropriate, this is also a good time to make amends to our enemies or forgive them. The truce should be carried out carefully with awareness of our own safety and well-being in mind. This should be done with no expectations of reciprocal words and deeds. We’re just reaching out with sincere kindness, they are not obligated to return the favor.

Regardless of the place others hold in our lives, it’s easy to take them for granted. Our lives are so busy that we might forget to acknowledge even minor accomplishments of others. This is often true in families. The parents may get so caught up in work and other obligations that they fail to nurture healthy bonds with their children. Today is a perfect day to acknowledge accomplishments kids have performed. If you’re someone’s child, this is also a good time to say something nice to a parent or guardian.

Naturally, we don’t want to neglect ourselves. We need to say something nice to ourselves in a non-narcissistic way. It’s healthy to reflect on our good deeds and accomplishments. When we feel authentically good about ourselves, it’s easier to sincerely say something nice to others.

Namaste
The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes the former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth, Jonathan Sacks. “Technology gives us power, but it does not and cannot tell us how to use that power. Thanks to technology, we can instantly communicate across the world, but it still doesn’t help us know what to say.”