Coloring the Walls with Kindness
May 9, 2024
Credit: Pinterest
Author: Ava Malkin
Editors: Dani Eder & Kate Shapiro
When I was two years old, I confidently walked into my older brother’s room and stood on his chair, so I would be tall enough to reach his desk. I grabbed his thick black Sharpie, opened the cap, and proceeded to draw smiley faces all over his steel-blue walls. The faces ranged in style and size; some had a circle surrounding them, others had vertical lines for eyes, and a few even had blush cheeks. They all had one strong similarity: each appeared to be beaming with joy. My parents, however, were less than joyful to see their beautifully painted walls covered in my artwork. When my mom questioned why I would do such a thing, I simply responded, “The walls were sad, and I needed to make them happy.”
As I have matured, I allow those smiley faces on the wall to highlight the benefits of being a compassionate, considerate, and overall good human being. Especially in a disconnected college environment, we often find ourselves in a detached or negative mindset. We easily forget how much the little acts of kindness can truly go a long way. Making others smile can be accomplished through deeds as small as complimenting someone’s outfit, waiting for a friend while they tie their shoelace, calling my parents and reminding them how much I love and appreciate them, helping my roommate carry groceries upstairs, getting lunch with an old friend, opening the door for a classmate… the list is endless. These actions do not consume much time or require much effort, but they can make a profoundly positive impact on someone’s day.
Whenever I think of this story, not only am I reminded of my inherent need to make others smile, but I also realize how much making others joyful can make me happy as well. My parents’ groans didn’t bother my two-year-old self and my happy walls. Making those blue walls smile made me smile, and I try to maintain that jovial motivation even in adulthood. I try to remember how these minor, seemingly insignificant actions not only benefit others, but are bound to radiate positivity and improve my spirit as well.
I grew up learning the saying “Kindness is free” or “Kindness costs nothing.” Despite its cliche nature, I think back to my two-year-old self, who lived by this maxim. I am reminded of the importance of carrying out random acts of compassion and, as a result, of maintaining the joyful energy that permeated through my life as a child.
As I continue my transition into adulthood, I will never forget the power of a smile. Even on days filled with clouds and gray skies, I try never to let the blues get the best of me. Walking around the Cornell campus, metaphorical Sharpie in hand, I am ready to create smiles for myself and for others everywhere I go.
