DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 47

Day 47 is a bit late considering Day 46's post was written on July 4.  Again, I apologize for the unplanned hiatus.

Some people dislike being surprised while others love it.  I used to tell people that the only surprises I liked were gift wrapped and had my name on them.  Many of us love to surprise those we love with gifts or good news.  One person you can surprise but perhaps never have is yourself.

Trying something new, reaching a goal, controlling your temper, expressing feelings, or doing anything you usually do not do or do not like to do...............surprise yourself by making changes in your life.

Today's message is:

SURPRISE YOURSELF!

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GIVE EVERY PERSON A GIFT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 46

Typically when we think of giving someone a gift we think of shopping, wrapping, and delivering a gift which either we have made or we have purchased.  If we had to give every person a gift we would not be able to afford it unless we won the lottery or the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.

You have something that is free which you can give to every person you know and even to everyone you do not know.  It is as simple as smiling.  When you smile at others you brighten their day, you perhaps make them feel joyful, you may make them feel not so alone in the world as many people do, and you will find you make yourself feel more cheerful when you exercise those facial muscles.  You can even smile at people when you answer the phone if you smile while saying hello.  It will affect how you sound, and that can make the caller feel joyful.

Today's message is:

SPREAD JOY

Don't You Just Love Clever Ideas?

Perhaps because I don't think of myself as a particularly clever person, I seem to be fascinated with what I consider to be the clever ideas and creations of other people and other cultures.  During my long career at Neiman Marcus I was able to see many clever ideas become merchandise to be carried in our stores and catalogs.  I remember the year the Pet Rock hit our selling floors for the Christmas Season.  I remember the mood rings that were quickly snapped up in the '70's.  We also sold a very pretty gold-tone costume ring that had a hinged domed cage which opened so that any one of six colored stones could be placed inside to coordinate with one's mood or wardrobe on any given day. 

This weekend I received two items which I think are especially clever.  My son and his family live in Tokyo, Japan; and he visited me this weekend.  He brought me a sweet note from my daughter-in-law accompanied by two thoughtful gifts which she had to know I would enjoy.  The Japanese people package everything so beautifully that before I even know what is in a package I am intrigued.  The first item was a packet containing small rectangles of paper.  Actually, the rectangles are paper soap.  I think it is an extremely clever idea because we all know there are many times when using restrooms we find soap dispensers to be empty.  Now I can carry this little packet in my handbag to be prepared when that happens.  While my hands are dry I will remove a single piece of paper, then turn on the faucets and as I begin to wash my hands the paper will turn into soap.  Is that not clever?

The other gift she sent to me is called "fashion paper" and is something I had not previously seen.  The paper is printed with a very pretty, delicate, pastel floral design, and is folded into squares about the size of cocktail napkins.  Each piece is meant to be used to wrap a small gift, and I think it is a very clever idea (especially coming on the heels of the recent holiday season when each time I wanted to wrap a small gift I had to cut into a huge roll of gift wrap paper which was cumbersome as well as wasteful).  So now I am eagerly looking forward to the next gift-giving occasion so I can buy small presents and wrap them in my "fashion paper."

What about you?  What are your favorite clever ideas and items?  Please share them below in the comment section.