If a butterfly can flap its wings, what can you do?

Have you ever stopped to think about how your actions affect others? No, I don't mean that in the parental way of actions speaking louder than words, or being a good person by the Golden Rule. I mean from a standpoint, of how the minutia of your day might sneak a part into someone else's life. Something as simple as flagging down a bus might alter the course of events in someone's day, leading to a potentially new set of events that would never have conspired.

Ever hear of the butterfly effect? It's like that. Only, because of the joys of free will and infinite possibility, the simplest of things can lead to the biggest outcomes. I'd like to share a story to regale you, if I may. A couple of years ago, some friends and I were heading down to Manhattan for a night of drinking, cavorting around, and all around good times. On the subway, some adolescents decided to pick a fight with two of my colleagues, leaving one of them bloodied on the subway floor. Following the departure of the hoodlums, an older woman came up to my friend, helped him to his feet, and made sure that he was all right, while one of us ran up to get the police. Had we ever met this woman before? No. Would we ever see her again? Not likely. Yet, she went out of her way, out of the compassion of her heart to help us. A complete stranger stepped into our lives. Just like that.

Now, I want you to do something for me. Think of your day. Think of all the strangers that you may have encountered. You may not realize it, but you do encounter many people odds are you don't know. You just don't see it. Think about it. If you're running to class, you inadvertently pass by a few dozen people who you don't know. They might see you, formulate an opinion about you based on the "vibes" you give off, or they might ignore you. Why not take the chance to brighten the day of a stranger? There is a woman and her husband I always pass on my way to my Physics lectures at 8:15 am. I have never introduced myself to her, nor her husband, yet every day, she smiles and says "Good morning." Her husband simply nods to acknowledge my existence before him. Something as small as that can really make all the difference. A simple "Good morning."

If a butterfly can flap its wings, and cause an earthquake in Tokyo, think of what a simple smile can do for a stranger. Just think about that.