Listen up... and make someone's day

What small act of kindness would brighten up your day? A new YouGov poll, published by the Samaritans, discovered that 44 per cent of people across the nation say having someone listen to them would make them feel better.

Apparently we're all so self-involved, we barely have time to pay attention to what is going on in friends' and colleagues' lives. It is little wonder that social networking, which allows us to pour out drivel about ourselves to whoever is around to catch it, is thriving.

If you can't get someone you know to hear about last night's date, dinner or dream, you may as well tell a bunch of mild acquaintances; strangers, even. Other favoured answers were getting a hug and being complimented. I presume receiving cash was not one of the options.