Today we talked about social deviance, which is exactly what it sounds like: deviating from societal norms. Usually, when we hear the word deviant, we think of somebody doing something weird or unusual that people look down upon, like wearing strange clothes or acting differently. However, the part of Sal's discussion that really caught my attention was the part about Positive Deviance. Why not flip it around and take deviance the other way? You can do good things that are still outside the "norm". Whether it's a simple "Good morning!", or as Sal said, maybe paying for somebody's coffee or toll. I thought of a commercial I had seen on TV that represented this idea of how one small act of kindness can lead to several other acts of kindness.
I hate to admit that I like a commercial, but this one is spot-on. Something as small as a smile or holding the door for someone, or saying hi to somebody you don't normally talk to, can make a person's day. One day during my junior year, I was having a really stressful week with school and some other things. My dad, in order to cheer me up, baked me a cake with a giant smiley face on it! It was the most adorable idea, and he cheered me up right away. Not only do I love cake, but the idea behind it all was even more uplifting. Just knowing that somebody else cares about you and is willing to do something nice for you is a reassuring thought. I think if everybody took the time to be more positively deviant, the world would be a much happier place. :)
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