20 Things You Can Do Today to Make The World a Better Place

“Modern Family’s” Phil approves of our gratitude plan. (Photo: ABC/Image via Giphy)

Say Thank You

This is one of the simplest things on this list and also one of the most important. And before anyone asks, this isn’t actually meant as a reminder to be grateful for the positive things in your life. (Though that is also a generally good thing to do, too, and something we should all probably work a little harder at.) No, this is a reminder to just say a simple thank you to those around you. It’ll make others feel appreciated. And, yes, it’ll remind you that there are good people doing good things for and around you, all day long. Practicing gratitude benefits everyone in your life.

Try it. Do it for seemingly dumb things. Thank your significant other for emptying the dishwasher without you having to remind them. Email a quick thanks to someone at work who does you a solid, or shares a useful piece of information you didn’t know about a project. Thank the stranger that holds the door open at Starbucks, or the cashier who double bags your groceries at the store. Yes, these are all things we’re supposed to be doing anyway as decent human beings. But I’m willing to bet that a lot of people forget to do so on the regular.

Especially take a minute to say thank you to those whose work you probably take for granted. Say thanks to the janitors that empty your office trash, the maids that clean your hotel rooms, the crossing guard who has to police an intersection with a broken traffic light, the person that drives the bus you ride every day. There’s are countless people performing literally thankless jobs all around us, and we probably don’t pay attention to as many of them as we should. Let’s appreciate each other, whenever we get the chance.