I have an opportunity to cheer people up. Please hit me with your ideas...

[VestaTilly]

I have use of a shop window in a prominent location in our town for a few weeks. There’s nothing I want to promote or sell, I just want to use it for something really cheery, positive and hopefully witty, and to put a smile on some passer by’s faces.

Only problem is, I’m completely devoid of inspiration. Any ideas?

[VestaTilly]

That sounds wrong. Should it be passers by? 🤔

[PenelopeStern]

A cheesy “dad” joke. Different one every day.

[Soutiner]

Can you recreate Bagpuss/Emily’s shop window?

[maturinsslothe]

A party.

[Gncq]

How about something connected to the location?
I always love this old photos of the town/village you live in with horses instead of cars, those old style shop fronts etc. You could print some up big?

Others might find that dreadfully dull though, sorry!

[Gncq]

^ those not this

[Clymene]

Different tableaux every day using Lego/ toys. They don't even have to be very good but I can promise you they'll enchant children

[VestaTilly]

Love the idea of Bagpuss!

But I was thinking more of a “keep going, we’ll be out the other side soon” kind of message... but funny and lighthearted.

Also, there’s a limited budget 😔

[FusionChefGeoff]

A friend of mine did something in her village like this. She had 2 life size teddies and dresses
them up doing stuff really human every day eg ironing / watching TV / mowing the lawn.

Then people got into it and started donating fancy dress etc and it got more and more outlandish every day.

Can you set up a collection box nearby to encourage community participation??

[VestaTilly]

It’s a Tourist Information Centre, so ye olde photos are quite often in the windows. But I do love them.

[VestaTilly]

I would LOVE to change it every day, but I also work full time (at home, always have done, I’m very lucky) and have a child, so it’s not feasible

[spaceghetto]

My ds and I would love a lego scene. If there was a particular item you had to spot... even better!

[Standrewsschool]

Can you invite children to draw pictures which can be displayed in the window? Maybe have different themes each week - animals, local area, rainbows etc, or different age-groups. Maybe get people to vote on their favourite each week for a prize?

[VestaTilly]

Both excellent ideas... I’m starting to think I need to delegate to some kids

[Randomrebel]

I like that poem about a smile 😊 being infectious. Could you do that and also ask children to do some drawings of people smiling. I was going to say ask people to write about what makes them smile or happy but that might encourage them to linger too long. So you could maybe just put one verse of the poem on and some pictures which are visible without being/going too close. Or maybe ask people to send things to a community facebook page to cheer people up who aren’t getting out and aren’t walking past your window or seeing people.

[Randomrebel]

This poem you could write it on a blackboard or print it off large.

[VestaTilly]

I like that Randomrebel

I think I’m going to go for something like this, with either the poem or some other positive message written on the glass