The Quiet Girl in the Corner

You know the girl I'm talking about, the quiet one in the corner. She may not actually be "in the corner," but she's in the background, behind the scenes, never the center of attention, never in the spotlight. She's not friends with everybody, and she doesn't try to be. Instead she spends her time with a small group of close friends. You may look at her and wonder why she's not more outgoing, thinking it's not that hard to speak up.

But, don't be too quick to judge the quiet girl in the corner. She may be quiet, but she is not timid. Just because she prefers to stay in the background doesn't make her a wallflower, it just means she likes to observe what's going on around her. Staying out of the spotlight doesn't mean she's not fun-loving. The quiet girl still likes to go out and have a great time, but she's also the one who takes care of her friends when they have a little too much fun. She doesn't try to be friends with everybody because she believes in the value of a genuine friendship, but this does not mean she's not friendly and doesn't like meeting new people.

The quiet girl might be better with the written word than the spoken word. If you took some time to read her words, you might understand her better. Underneath her seemingly shy exterior may be a woman of great strength. You don't know what she has going on or what she's been through in her life. There may be a deeper reason for her quietness. The best way to find out what a quiet girl has to say is to ask her. Don't write her off without giving her a chance. She might end up being a pretty cool chick.

Challenge: Do Something Nice For Your Digital Friends

Last night was one of those times when a bunch of little annoying things happen at once and you wind up super frustrated. So, I thought a nice way to ensure today was a better day would be to do something nice for my digital friends and encourage others to do the same. Here are some ideas:

• Read and comment on a blog you've never read or commented on before.
• Write an e-mail to your favorite networking site and tell them what they've done right.
• Follow someone who is new to Twitter. It might just be the encouragement they need.
• Look through your blog comments and check out the commenters' blogs.
• Find a blog you read frequently that has the followers feature and become a follower.
• Tweet all of your tweeps and thank them for following you (feel free to RT @sameve).
• Post a comment on this entry and give a shout out to a great blog that's not getting enough attention.

So, accept the challenge! Do just one of these things and make someone smile. Chances are that someone else will do something nice for you in return. Even if they don't, it's still worth it. Have a great day!

Patience is a Virtue, Kindness is Too

"Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle."

This well-known mantra is often quoted, but not as often followed. It's one of those things that's easier said than done. Sometimes we can't help but react instinctively to someone's actions. But, what if everyone actually made the effort to be kinder than necessary to those they met? It's true that everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle. It may be something seemingly small like fighting a cold, stressing over work, or having an argument with a friend, or it could be something bigger like worrying about an ailing relative, or dealing with divorce. Even if it seems like nothing's wrong, chances are that they're just putting on a happy face. So, the next time a co-worker doesn't do what you asked right away, take a second and think before you say something. And, the next time your mother nudges you about the same thing she's been nudging you about for weeks, give her the benefit of the doubt. Even she might be fighting some sort of battle that you don't know about.

And another thing, don't underestimate the power of a genuine compliment. If you think someone's new haircut looks nice, or you like their outfit, tell them! If one of your co-workers helps you out, give them credit and thank them. When one of your friends says they'll be there for you when you need them, and actually follows through, let them know how much you appreciate them.

Make someone smile. Corny though it may sound, when you make someone smile, you'll smile too. And they just might return the favor when you really need it. The key to compliment giving is be genuine. If you don't mean it, don't say it. But at the same time, don't hold back. People will appreciate your words even though they may not show it.

Everyone knows The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." So, put yourself in someone else's shoes. Take a moment to consider what might be going on behind their cheery facade. Be kind to others and kindness will make its way back to you.