I sometimes like to test out theories. Last week I was walking back to the office after dropping my son Kai off at kindy school, and I decided to do a simple experiment.

I had 100 metres to go before I got to the office. "What if I smiled at the next three people and did nothing but get eye contact with another three," I thought. I wondered if I gave smiles, I would receive smiles, and create a small piece of 'proof' to prove the theory that if you want to experience something in your life, you give it first.

Well here are the results

My Action	Result
Smile	Smile
Smile	Small attempted smile
Smile	Nod of head in acknowledgement
No smile just eye contact	No smile
No smile just eye contact	Strange look!
No smile just eye contact	No Smile

So I did not receive a smile in each case when I smiled. But what I did create was connection with the three I smiled at. Nothing was created with the other three people. I'm sure, if I did the same thing each day, within two days I would see a smile every time.

Too not smile is not easy for me because I just love to smile and say hello to people I do not know. You never know who you will meet. I even met and talked with the Honorary Consulate for Barbados the other day on my daily walk, his name is Ian!

I love to see smiling friendly faces. I know to create what I want, I just have to smile and say hello, and everyone reciprocates. This is the magic of giving. Yet it is not in the receiving that I feel good - it is in the giving. The fact the other person smiles back is a pure bonus for me. I do it because I feel good. This is the joy of giving!

Everyone has a smile so it's the easiest thing to give. Sincere complements are the next easiest thing to give. And once we move into the focus of giving as a daily choice because we feel good and want to feel better - giving money and our time allows us to escalate these feelings, and attract more of what we want.

The magic is in the giving!