With the cost of living crisis and political turmoil causing widespread distress, it can feel like there's little to be happy about as the gloom of winter looms closer. But small gestures can go a long way to cheering up someone's day.
A simple smile at a stranger as you pass them on the street is one example, although the days of doffing a cap and wishing someone good morrow might seem like a tradition resigned to the past. Lots of us are guilty of shuffling around staring at our phones rather than engaging with other people when we're out and about.
Whether it's just a case of being oblivious to the interaction, reluctant to engage with a random person or just plain rudeness, dishing out a warm smile to get nothing in return can feel like a personal rejection. One Bristol Post reader who experienced this was so disappointed by the lack of response that he wrote into the paper.
