CHAPTER ONE
How Much of a Difference Can One Person Make?
Let no one ever come to leave you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. – Mother Teresa
Like many, I searched for my purpose in life for quite some time. Happily, I have found that purpose in marrying my beautiful wife, Charlie, raising two beautiful spirited daughters, Coco and Ava, and sharing an idea I call “Daymaking” with everyone I touch.
I want to leave my children and others with an understanding of the impact they can have on society simply by caring for themselves, each other, and everyone in their lives. This is what I call Daymaking. To make someone else’s day is truly soul’s work that benefits everyone involved. A small act of kindness such as volunteering at your city’s homeless shelter can feed individual souls and in turn nourish humanity. We also refill our own bucket every time we perform acts like these.
Many people don’t know that “the best” in life includes serving others, so a sense of fulfillment eludes them. With Daymaking, I’m talking about genuinely making someone else’s day. If you serve others for your livelihood, which many of us do, try serving wholeheartedly or with a “servant’s heart.” This does not mean with servitude, but with a true care and compassion for the well-being of those you serve. Give 100 percent of yourself to make their day. It will elevate your work in doing so; I guarantee it, as long as it is thoughtful and genuine.
It does not take a lot of effort to be a Daymaker. Just behave in a caring way and watch what happens. Your life will begin to fill with perfect moments that serve the highest good of all. Perfect moments are not rare for a Daymaker. They happen all the time.
A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead
It only takes a moment to make someone’s day – to become a Daymaker – and sometimes those moments even change lives as I discovered a few years ago. I was working in my salon one day when a client came in to have her hair styled. I was surprised to see her, since it was right in the middle of her five-week period between haircuts. I figured that she must have an important social engagement, so I asked her about her evening plans.
“I don’t have anything special going on,” she