PRINT
Things You Can Give Away That Aren't Smiles
A happy face is easy, cheap and effective when it comes to making other people feel a little brighter. But there are other methods. Columnist Leigh Newman weighs in.
Original Content  |  November 01, 2012
Alleyway shortcut Photo: Thinkstock
Give Away: Your Secret Shortcut

You know that way you get home that involves skipping the highway (and the bottleneck traffic), circumventing the bridge (which is under construction) and using that weird little side street that most drivers mistake for a pedestrian walkway? Sharing this route not only makes people really like you, it cuts a half hour off their drive home, which also endears you to their spouses, kids, dogs and friends. As they all sit down to dinner—on time, for once!—they will think of you kindly. Better yet, they may just even name the route after you, rattling off directions in the car like "Let's take Marie's Weird Alley Shortcut!" which is a little like getting a real street named after you, minus the ceremony with the mayor.
Printed from Oprah.com on Sunday, May 26, 2013
© 2013 OWN, LLC. All Rights Reserved