An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  A lot of us have heard this phrase.

How about one-a-day vitamins?  Those are helpful to us.

One a day.  Once every single day, give a compliment to the people closest to you – the people who live with you.  For parents of children, for siblings, for husband and wife – find a way to compliment the others in your life once a day.

I want to know how my son’s days are.  He’s in college and I want to know what he is learning, what his professors are like, what his experience is like.  But, because all I have been is the nag who points out what is wrong, what hasn’t been done and what needs to be done, he chooses not to have a connection with me.   His answers to short and non-descriptive:  “good,” “yep,” “fine,” etc.   So to turn that around, I have to change how I interact with him.  I have to make some positive “deposits” and tell him what he does well, why I am proud of him and encourage him with whatever he does.

I make efforts to say a minimum of one positive thing to him about him once a day.   Do that with whomever you want to be close to.  Make the positive deposits.  Become a friend, a catalyst, a supporter and cheerleader.  You can do it.

Anyone you come across should be left off better than they were when you met them.  The cashier, the gas station attendant, the bank teller.  Find something positive to say or do for each individual who crosses your path.  Even share a smile or a polite comment with the person who works at the toll booth.  When you brighten someone else’s day, you brighten your own.  You uplift them, they uplift you and they in turn  share that smile or good vibe with the next person.  It all radiates outward you know.

I am very good with bringing a smile to a stranger’s face, but not so good with the people who are closest to me.  I am working to make that better.  A woman is the sunshine of her family; a man is the rock and the shelter.  Whatever role you have in your home, make it stronger, make it brighter.  Allow the people in your house to feel like they can come to you for anything at anytime by being the person who looks on the bright side and is always open, uplifting and motivating.

Once you get into the habit of one a day, make it two a day, ten a day and even then, don’t stop.