A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.

Small courtesies cost almost nothing to give and can land far more heavily than their size suggests. A stranger who has had a hard morning may remember a warm moment at a shop counter for the rest of the day, and a colleague braced for criticism can be disarmed entirely by a friendly glance. People rarely know which small gesture will matter, so the effect is easy to underestimate.

Today, try offering one more kind word than you normally would, especially to someone who seems to be struggling or is simply doing an unnoticed job. You will rarely see the result, which is fine.