As I sit here at Starbucks and write this. I am watching person after person shuffles their way to the head of the line desperate for their caffeine. I'm a people watcher by nature. I find it fun to look at each individual and try and guess their story. Call me crazy but it's a little game I like to play.

Over the last few trips to this particular Starbucks. I have been struck by the lack of energy each person walks in with. There are no smiles. No attempts to engage their fellow caffeine addicts. Buried in their phones. Some are just blurry eye zombies desperate to make sure they don't order their new-fangled drink incorrectly.

When they finally arrive at the counter to place their order they don't even bother to look at the person taking their order. They just hand over their money or scan their Starbucks cards automatically without even acknowledging the living breathing person on the other side of the counter. Then shuffle over to the end of the counter waiting for their order.

So many people simply going through the motions.

It's sad.

And I have to admit, a little depressing.

Has life cattle called us to the point that even stopping by Starbucks for a tasty treat has become a chore? A simple automatic motion that we simply go through without any joy.

I swear it looks like the gallows are waiting for them.

As Ripplers, we have to protect ourselves from falling into the same trap. We have to guard against the go through the motion fog that seems to envelop so many others.

So I made it a special point to catch the eye of a few people this morning. I smiled. Figuring if they were missing theirs, I could spare mine. I was looking for a reaction. Anything to get these curmudgeons to wake up and realize life isn't so bad!

Guess what? It created a spark. I noticed when they realized I was smiling AT THEM, they changed. There was a visible change in each person's demeanor. Suddenly the once sullen were suddenly transformed from the ho-hum bumps on a log into something more. They were suddenly jarred awake and eager to return my smile back to me.

Ripples don't have to be grandiose jesters. They can be something as minor as a well-placed smile given as a gift to someone who desperately needs it.  That smile just may create a spark that will change their day. Don't doubt it, because it could even change yours. That's Rippling at its finest.

So make it your mission to change someone's life today.

Go create some sparks and watch the Ripples you will crate in the process.

Ripple On!!!

ICYMI: How Do You Respond?