Chatting with a friend this morning inspired me to think about what things can people put on to change the kind of day…or night…they’re going to have while also helping them to feel great in the process.

I came up with a short list, just three things. After you read mine, what would you add?

Put on your Sunday best. A bride always looks beautiful on her wedding day, even if every other day of her life she looks like a goat with cracked hooves. And what man doesn’t look a little more Bond-ish in a tuxedo? No, you don’t have to put on a wedding gown or a penguin suit to dress up. But you can wash and press your clothes, and do the best with what you have.

If you think you look good, you’ll feel good about yourself. And that even applies to your crazy aunt who wears that dress that looks like it was made from the fabric of a discarded couch. It doesn’t matter if you think she looks good or not; when she thinks she looks good, she acts a little less crazy. And that’s all that matters.

Put on a wig. A friend of mine told me that he and his wife do this little role play game where she comes into the bar where he’s sitting while wearing a wig sporting a color that is very different from her own. They flirt, get close and have a little fantasy of their own while effectively picking up each other like strangers. It sounds odd to me, but whatever. Actually, I think I could get into that, but I think the real turn-on for me would be if she were to pick up the check.

I acted in a few plays in college. After weeks of rehearsals, sometimes the material felt a little stale. But something amazing happened during the first dress rehearsal: MAGIC! A little make-up, a costume and a wig created an instant transformation. Okay, a wig is not for everyone. But if you’ve ever put one on your head, you know it changes you.

Put on a smile. A frown on an ugly person face creates the same effect as wearing a necktie around your butt. People will take notice of it, and they might even feel sorry for you. But is that what you want? Pity?

Even the most dour face can be improved with a smile. A smile says, “See? I’m not dead yet!” It tells people that you’re approachable. It makes you seem friendly. And couldn’t the world use a little more niceness? A smile doesn’t just transform the person who puts it on, but it also changes the people who see it. What happens when someone smiles at you? You smile back. If you’re normal.

Okay, put on any one of those three things, and it will change the kind of day you’re going to have. But put on a smile, and it will change you AND everyone who sees it. So get crackin’!

Now tell me what’s on your list…