My latest challenge has been interesting. Sometimes it barely makes a difference and is quite easy. Other times, I really have to force myself.
Examples of times when it was easy to be friendly:
When a friend visited with her new 6 day old baby and slept peacefully the entire time.
When a customer complimented my homemade flapjacks.
When the weather was nice and I was walking along happily.
When I was swimming and someone moved out of the way for me.
When I was buying presents for a friend’s birthday and getting excited.
Examples of times when it was not easy to be friendly:
When I was getting my tooth pulled out.
When there were lots of people standing around chatting in the supermarket and blocking the aisle with their trolleys. For ages.
When a customer shouted at me that it was “a korma, not a curry!”
When the same customer shouted at me “I’m in a bad mood today! I’m a manic depressive! Do you know what that means!?”
When I wanted to post a letter and had been waiting in line for ages then they closed when I got there, because it’s Wednesday afternoon. All Post Offices close on Wednesday afternoons, didn’t you know? (Who made this rule up? It is a stupid rule.)
Despite such adversity, I have pressed on with my mission. I find that smiling a lot more gets me in the friendly zone. Being helpful easily translates into friendliness. So if I’m not feeling friendly, I try to be helpful instead and it appears as friendliness, so helps me stick to my mission.
I must admit, I have not picked up any new best friends in a cafe or discovered I’ve got tons in common with my next door neighbour. Although when I was having my tooth out, I didn’t see the dentist till 20 minutes after my appointment time because he was late and I was really friendly about it. That might possibly have been because I wasn’t dying to get into the room and have my tooth out! Then when the dentist was tugging and pulling with a huge pair of tweezers (I’m sure they’re not called that), I didn’t fuss. I was all cool and chilled and friendly, although it wasn’t nice at all.
I think the mission is going well so far. As long as no-one tests me too much!
lazylauramaisey 
Posted by therabbitholez on July 19, 2012 at 13:03
It’s nice to be nice, even when sometimes you really have to put the effort in:)
Posted by lazylauramaisey on July 19, 2012 at 19:39
Yeh, it is nice, you’re right. People respond well to it and are nice back. It’s lovely.
Posted by A Star on the Forehead on July 19, 2012 at 15:31
Good luck on your friendly mission. Sometimes just a smile makes a huge difference in somebody’s life! Blessings! 🙂
Posted by lazylauramaisey on July 19, 2012 at 19:40
It’s true. I’m finding that people respond well to more smiles. I think I will keep it up even when I’ve finished my mission
Posted by A Star on the Forehead on July 19, 2012 at 21:42
Great idea! I am smiling more too, specially if I am down! 🙂
Posted by lazylauramaisey on July 20, 2012 at 18:35
It helps, doesn’t it? It makes you feel better to make yourself smile when you’re not actually feeling smiley.
Posted by A Star on the Forehead on July 20, 2012 at 18:45
Indeed, smiling and standing up taller instantaneously improve my mood when I am down.
Have a weekend full of blessings! 🙂
Posted by E.J. on July 21, 2012 at 02:27
What a fantastic project! Kill ’em with kindness! Good luck! 🙂
Posted by lazylauramaisey on July 21, 2012 at 06:06
That’s the aim! Sometimes I forget and have a grumpy moment. But it doesn’t last long 🙂