It doesn't take much to turn someones day around: a smile, holding the door a split second for the person behind you, asking a child on the elevator if they would like to press the button, offering sincere thanks for a small kindness, or by making random notes of kindness with your children.

The idea of writing Love Notes to a City was thought up by Krystyn Heide to offset the bad feelings she got from an anonymous hate note she discovered in a New York coffeehouse and from the crowds of gawkers gathered within view of her office windows, outside what she later learned was the building where Heath Ledger had died.

Inspirational blogger Jen Lemen embraced the idea and encouraged others to spread love notes of hope to their own cities. (She even found a chocolate company willing to provide sweet treats to attach to her love notes!)

All you need to do to join in this spirit-lifting exercise is to write a positive message or lovely quotation on a small piece of sturdy paper (or print out many using the computer!) and hide the messages in plain view somewhere in your area.

Tuck the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think) in a book at the library, leave a compliment (Your smile sparkles like stars in the sky) by a mirror in a public restroom, or a message of hope (You can do it!) in the produce section of your grocery store.

One of your family's Love Notes might just change everything, and that's a pretty cool return on investing a little bit of your time.