Mission JOY: Why I’m Smiling at Strangers (and You Should Too!)

I smiled at a stranger on my way into the grocery store.

Not in a creepy way. Just a simple, friendly smile.

My reason for doing so was two-fold. One, he looked grumpy. And two, I’m on a mission to inject more joy into my life, and smiling at strangers is a free way to do just that. And guess what? He smiled back! (Mission accomplished.)

This little moment reminded me how small actions can shift energy—not just for others, but for ourselves, too.

The Case for "Mission JOY"

"Mission JOY" isn’t new for me. I’ve been at it for a while, trying to sprinkle more intentional joy into my daily life. Some days, it’s easy. Laughter with my kids, a great workout, a coffee that tastes extra good. Other days? It’s a struggle just to keep my head above water.

I know I’m not alone in this. Friends, family, and coaching clients often tell me they feel the same. Life feels like a never-ending to-do list, and joy somehow gets buried under work deadlines, kid schedules, and general adulting.

And sometimes, it’s not just the day-to-day grind that gets in the way.

When Joy Feels Hard to Find

Over the weekend, I felt an unease I hadn’t felt in a while. That kind of anxious, unsettled feeling that sits heavy on your chest. Usually, I can shake it off. But this time, it clung to me all day, sneaking into everything I did. Every conversation, every thought, every interaction.

By the end of the day, I had a choice - I could let my mind spiral down a rabbit hole of what ifs, or I could take action.

And the first thing that popped into my head was joy.

Not because joy magically fixes everything (I wish!), but because when the world feels heavy, we need to create our own light.

What We Can Control

There are so many things happening, personally, globally, everywhere, that we can’t control. It’s overwhelming if you think about it too much.

But what can we control?

We can control how we show up.
We can control what we focus on.
We can control the energy we put into the world.

And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather put more love, compassion, enthusiasm, and joy into the mix instead of adding to the stress and negativity.

So, Here’s My Challenge to You

Next time you’re out and about, smile at a stranger. No expectations, no pressure. Just a simple smile.

Because maybe, just maybe, that small act will be the bright spot in their day. And even if they don’t smile back (hey, not everyone is on Mission JOY yet), you’ll still be sending out the kind of energy the world needs more of.

So, let’s do this together. One smile at a time.