I’ve always been a little bit of a “to-myself’ type of person. These people who are always smiling and giving compliments were just not for me. It seemed a little fake to me. I probably had my guard up too because, in business, I had dealt with so many people who would be friendly and complimentary just to find out that what they were after was a good deal for themselves.

But in recent years, I’ve discovered something very special. There are actually many, and I mean many, people who wish people well through a smile, a compliment and even encouragement without expecting anything in return. This was an eye opener for me.

As I experienced these truly giving people, I saw myself trying to return the favor. Maybe somewhat awkwardly at first, but I was trying. I was really learning to give without expecting anything in return. But even more importantly for me, I was learning that it was alright to receive a thank you or a compliment from someone else without being suspicious of something. This was hard to overcome, but I’m much better at it now. Once I learned that others really do give freely without expecting something in return, I found I could also just say ‘thank you’, give a meaningful smile, a compliment, or a word of encouragement and actually feel good about it.

The title of this website hit home to me. Just “as we do life”, we can make such a difference. That’s why I call it the “Easy 3”. Just as we are doing the everyday things we do around people – family, work, friends, the coffee shop, etc – it is so easy to give a meaningful smile, a compliment, or a word of encouragement – “As We Do Life”.

The “Easy 3” has certainly made a difference in my life, and I actually have fun passing the “Easy 3” on to others. It’s kinda’ contagious – I think.

Doug
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