Josh's Weekly Insights - June 24, 2026

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

-Oscar Wilde

You don’t always know the power of a smile or a kind word, but those small gestures can make the biggest difference. Often times as we walk past others on the street or even in a hallway in our building, we don’t see the full weight of the burdens they are carrying. We don’t truly know how hurt they are or even if they have given up hope.

And that is why a smile or showing someone appreciation can be so powerful. We can’t change the events that led up to this moment for that person, but by being kind and bringing some happiness into the day, we can make that moment a little brighter. Sometimes, that one moment is enough to help them reorient and get back on track.

Let me make it more visual for you. If you fell into a river and were fighting against the current to try to reorient yourself, how grateful would you be to find a branch to hold onto? In comparison to the river, that branch is not big. However, it could be exactly what you need in the moment to avoid being pulled down under the water once again.

Kind words of encouragement and smiles are the branches in the river of life. We are all facing difficulties and challenges that act as the current trying to pull us down. When someone smiles, steps up, and says, “I believe in you” or “You have value” it gives us a moment to reorient and believe again.

So, my encouragement for the week is to be the branch someone else needs. Find a smile and a kind word for someone around you each day. You may never know you even made a difference, but I promise you it will.

Now get out there and crush your week!