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I always say how small gestures can make a big difference and I wanted to share with you a few key examples. We are all human and we all crave positive attention. Because we know this, then it should be easier to communicate with each other, right? Well it’s not so easy, but hopefully these gestures will help guide you on the right path to bringing happiness to yourself and to others.
First gesture: remember to smile as much as possible. Statistics show that even when you are alone and depressed, just forcing yourself to smile could put you in a better mood. Smiling is a natural way of showing someone you care without having to verbally say it. Smiling can make a difference in someone else’s day just by passing by and giving a smile. It acknowledges that they exist.
Bottom line — smiling is contagious and many of us want to catch it!
Another gesture could be paying for someone’s toll, or buying someone a coffee. Over the summer, my sister was having a rough morning so she decided to visit my husband and me on the beach in Margate. She needed time to relax and de-stress.
On her way over the Margate Bridge, she took out money to pay and it turned out that the car in front of her paid for her toll. Now that toll is $1.50, which is a pretty hefty amount, but that small gesture turned my sister’s annoying morning into a great day.
Another gesture would be to verbally tell someone how you feel. It doesn’t monetarily cost anything, but it can certainly go a long way. It could be as big as professing your love for someone to something as small as just saying “thank you.” I have learned that it is important to acknowledge people even for the smallest things because too many times in life we either forget or we let these opportunities pass us by and then we feel it is too late. It is never too late, just do it.
Whitney’s Radar
Reality shows are still really popular, especially the ones that involve restaurants and cooking. I love watching these experienced chefs whip up a dish as if it is so simple and they do it with all fresh and easy-to-find ingredients all within a certain time frame.
These chefs do their thing with so much confidence and class. Isn’t it funny, when we watch these experienced chefs make great dishes, how we can almost taste and smell the aroma right through the TV?
This happened to me this past Sunday when I had the pleasure of watching the Iron Chef America episode featuring SeaBlue’s new executive chef Anthony Amoroso. I watched the episode at a viewing party inside the restaurant’s private dining room at The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. In the episode, which we watched live, Amoroso took on Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. The task was to make different variations of the fish Bronzino. In the end, Amoroso’s spread earned him more points than his competitor and so he won the challenge.
Amoroso, who was in attendance, finally got to break the silence about his win, which was taped “a long time ago,” according to Amoroso. (This was the first time his friends and family were notified of the outcome and we have it on video; check it out online at acweekly.com).
Amoroso is a New Jersey native (Jersey City), but he has had the opportunity to work for some fabulous restaurants in New York and in Las Vegas. Now he’s back home!
Dishing out advice on various topics to our female readers on issues related to networking, dating, employment, news, events, shopping and much more. She is the current president of the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees and owner of My Jewels by Whitney.
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Resolutions in the Air
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Chilling Out: Priceless
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Gift-Giving Tips
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Help Feed the Hungry
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Dress You Up
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Be Thankful
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Listen To Your Body
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Keeping Up
1. Anonymous said... on Oct 23, 2009 at 10:02PM
“Yes Whitney, I agree small gestures create BIG changes towards creating a positive environment. Kinda like your positive attitude and smile not only in your articles, but now regular readers of your column can see your positive personna on NBC 40 - way cool. I appreciate your intellect and key insights.”
2. Anonymous said... on Oct 28, 2009 at 12:42PM
“If only everyone could be so positive. Thanks Whitney. :-)”
3. Danielle M. said... on Oct 28, 2009 at 03:27PM
“I'm speaking for a group of women who are regular readers of A.C. Weekly and who are very disappointed with this column since it began appearing several months ago. The column purports, by its own admission, to "dish(ing) out advice on various topics to our female readers..." How can you say that when maybe once in the few months since the column has appeared has there been a topic that was specific to women? You would better serve your readers - female and male - by using a professional writer who can deliver what your newspaper promises and not relying on the navel-gazing musings of an amateur, and a self-aggrandizing amateur at that. We'd be curious to know this writer's professional credentials. We suspect she has none.”
4. Whitney Ullman said... on Oct 29, 2009 at 08:00AM
“Danielle, thank you for your opinion. I do appreciate it. I want to also thank you for reading my column each week even though you think it is so horrible. I guess there is something in there that makes you want to come back for more. In any event, I know it is easy to complain and be negative as most people have no problem being, but it would be nice if you and your group of readers would suggest topics that you would like to hear about and be a little more friendly. I guess my article on small kind gestures is not something you would like to participate in. It's ok, many other readers have commented online and in person as to how much they LOVE my articles.I do appreciate criticism, but I would appreciate it more if it was constructive.”
5. Danielle M. said... on Oct 29, 2009 at 08:50PM
“How much more constructive does criticism have to be? The single biggest point of contention is that your column, 99% of the time, NEVER focuses on women's issues. Perhaps the people who "love" your column are your network of family and friends? Furthermore, it's not up to the readers to tell you about which subjects they're interested in. That's the job of a professional - and the key word is professional - columnist, which clearly you're not. Go out and drill down; talk to women; see what's on their minds. Then write an insightful and well-reasoned column. That's the mark of a "pro."”
6. Jackie Manheim said... on Oct 31, 2009 at 09:01AM
“As I commented on the newest article, Whitney please DO NOT be discouraged by this imbesol of a person. She obviously has too much time on her hands, maybe she is an unemployed journalist as someone else stated. She is just so angry about everything in life and is a negative person all together. And she has some nerve telling you how to do your job as a professional writer. Your articles are VERY INSPIRING to many people so keep on writing. There will always be people who bring you down and hate your for all the good that you do. Such as this low life who craves attention. I don't know you personally but I hate people who think that they have the right to tell others what to do even if they don't know them. If she hates your article so much then STOP READING IT! That simple.”