As I was looking through some of the past pieces The Prowl staff has written, I came across Priscilla Khiev’s April 30 article, “You are more than just a statistic” from last year.  If you haven’t read it, I most definitely think you should. In her article, Khiev talked about the reality of depression. It’s not “a fancy word for feeling bummed-out.” It is a part of daily life.

But what inspired me to write this article was a specific quote from Khiev’s article: “It’s the little things that add up that can change a life.” In the context of her article, that statement was referring to little acts of self-love that can help you cope with depression. But then I thought: how can we help those around us who are suffering?

We all know one of those people who are continuously happy. Without fail, they always have a smile on their face. For me, it’s my friend Morgan. No matter how I’m feeling, she can almost always improve my mood. She’s brought me out of some dark times just by being a friend and a light in my life. We should all strive to be a Morgan.

Radiate happiness. Find a way to be a friend. Whether it be smiling at someone in the hallway or being there when someone’s having a bad time, there’s always a way you can help. Try your hardest to be one of the people whose good mood is contagious. Be someone who makes you feel a little less lonely. Invite someone to sit with you at lunch. Ask people how they are and be genuinely interested in the answer.

As my Sunday school teacher put it, be willing to be interrupted. There may be times when you need to pause your day to listen to someone else and be there for them. Be willing to do that. Don’t be so absorbed in what’s going on in your life that you can’t help someone who’s hurting. Check up on people that you haven’t talked to in a while. Don’t be a “surface friend;” be someone that people can talk to about real problems in their lives rather than just talking about your new favorite Netflix shows.

Be a life changer.

It’s not as hard as you think. It can be smiling to someone in the hallway or holding a door. All it takes is little acts of kindness. To reiterate Khiev’s point, “It’s the little things that add up that can change a life.” There are so many stories out there about people who were so close to ending their lives but a smile in passing or a simple act of kindness saved them. The world needs more of those stories and less of the 800,000 suicide stories.

I challenge anyone reading this: be a friend. Be more positive. Lend a hand or maybe just an ear. Smile at that girl in the hall. Hold the door for the kid who has his hands full. Some of the easiest things in the world to do are some of the most impactful. Be a life changer.