Last week, I was walking with a friend when she noticed the brassy sheen of a penny on the sidewalk.

“Find a penny, pick it up; all day long you’ll have good luck!” She said

Easily amused by the little things in life, she bent down to grab the coin, only to find out that it wasn’t, in fact, heads-up. Now for those of you who aren’t versed in the luck factor of pennies, it’s useless if you find it face down.

So what did my friend do? Instead of leaving it there to disappoint the next person, or even pick it up despite it’s lack of luck, she simply flipped it over.

“Maybe the next person who walks by needs the luck more.”

Acts of kindness can be small. They can be subtle. They can easily weave their way into your daily routine. The first Friday of every October is World Smile Day… and that my friends, is today. It is based off the international, quirky symbol for happiness, AKA the iconic “Smiley Face,” and is supposed to remind all of us, all over the world, to do one simple thing. Be kind.

Be kind to your mom.  The person in line next to you at the grocery store. Whomever will walk down the street after you.

Lets simply take World Smile Day as a little reminder that we are all human. No matter where we live, where we’re from, or who we love… one thing is universal. One thing transcends any boundaries – physical or psychological, and unites us all.

That one thing? It’s that we’re all human. 

We are often so swept up in our busy days that we don’t take the time to slow down, truly enjoy our days and appreciate the humans we’re surrounded by. That preoccupation has a tendency to distract us from purposefully and consciously partaking in acts of kindness with the sheer, pure intention of making someone else’s day just a little bit brighter.

Have you ever bought a cup of coffee for the person behind you in line? Do you give up your seat on the train to someone who needs it more? When’s the last time you sent a handwritten thank you letter?

You don’t have to do much to participate in World Smile Day. Literally all you’ve got to do is smile. Be happy. Be compassionate in your actions today, and remember one important thing: always be human to one another.