For the last week I keep noticing great opportunities to do things that will make other people happy. Simple things. Fun things. Now I’m a pretty intentionally aware gal, but my gift-giving awareness has just gone into hyper drive. YEAH!!

Here are some examples. A couple was over for dinner and we started talking about the movie Momma Mia! Turns out the wife adored ABBA when she was ten years old. So we put on an ABBA greatest hits CD we had just bought and played it. She was transported back to her ten-year old self and sang along to every song. What joy! My husband and I have decided we’re going to wrap it up and send the CD to her.

Yesterday I was at the Ballard Farmer’s Market here in Seattle. I was a dollar short for my fruit purchase and said to the vendor: “My husband’s getting coffee, I can get it from him.” The guy responds, “Don’t worry about it. Gee, I wish I could go get a cup of coffee.” Without missing a beat I ask him what he wants, knowing that he’ll be stuck at his tent for hours. Now the coffee cost me more than what I was short on the fruit, but it gave me such happiness to do that simple favor for him.

At the same market, I brought my husband change back from a purchase. In it was a $2 bill. Now, I could care less about a $2 bill, but a couple sitting next to us at the coffee cafe says “You got a $2 bill? My mother collects those.” Now, if I had the $2 bill in my hand I would have given it right over to him. My husband says he thought about it, but didn’t act on it.

I don’t think I’ve fully appreciated how often these gifting-others opportunities present themselves to us. I mean, I know I’m more intentionally aware than most, but this is joyous awareness taking hold on a whole new level!

So the next time you think about doing something nice for someone else, follow your inclination. Do it for the smiles it invokes in you and others.