Goodbye friend

A very dear kind man passed away this week and I will miss him.  Last night as I reflected on his life all I could think of was the nice generous way in which he had lived.  What a wonderful way to be remembered.  I hope I can learn a lot from his example.

We ALL can

I can.  You can.  We ALL can!  Every single one of us can make this a kinder world.  Let's work together and make it so!

Stop the shootings

Returning from my morning walk, I was listening to news of yet another shooting.  One student was shot and another student was taken into custody at a North Carolina high school first thing today. There have been 47,221 gun incidents in the US this year, resulting in 11,985 deaths.  THIS MUST STOP!  It's not safe to go to school or to church or temple.  Sad.  Very sad.  We must make this a priority.

The hate must end

Eight men and three women, including a pair of brothers and a married couple, were murdered yesterday inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA.  I spend a lot of time speaking about kindness, but I simply must address this latest incident of hate.  Too many lives are lost.  Too many families are injured.  There is no good thing that comes from hate.  We need to return to kindness and love.  The hate must end.  This has to become a priority!

yummy chocolate

Tomorrow is National Chocolate Day!  Of course it is not the only chocolate day.  We had another one on July 7th and then there was International Chocolate Day on September 13th.  Oh and don't forget the chocolate that will come up on Wednesday for Halloween.  Don't you think every day could be chocolate day?  It's just like kindness - there is never too much!

Boo

I have been seeing so many costumes lately and a lot of early trick-or-treating.  Yes, we used to confine it to October 31st, but what's the harm in a few extra days?  Be kind to the kids and to those who sponsor Halloween events.  We can all use some more fun!

Kind tweet

Yesterday afternoon I received a kind tweet from someone who has read this blog:  "you have some great nuggets of wisdom and kindness on your blog!"  He didn't have to reach out to me of course, but what a kind thing to do.  That's what kindness is all about.  You don't have to, but it sure is nice.

can mean a lot

The smallest acts of kindness can mean a lot to someone - an awful lot!  Spread kindness today, and every day.

Tell me a story

Tell me a story about someone who has shown you kindness.  How did it make you feel?  What makes you remember that kindness?  I'd really love to know!

Trans Kindness

Civil rights protections have expanded over the years, to better include transgender people, and in fact to better include all people, but in the past day or so a very troubling reversal has come.  The White House is responsible for an effort that would narrow the definition of gender to male or female, and for that assignment to be unchangeable from birth.  This is not only unkind, it is downright cruel.  You cannot erase an entire segment of the population.  Protections should be unnecessary, but meanspirited attacks like this threaten us all.

Specialist

These days there seems to be an expert for just about everything and folks seem more often to focus their energies in to one or two areas becoming specialists in the field.  Is there anyone who specializes in kindness?  What a wonderful specialty that would be!

Another fortune

Do you read the fortunes you receive in fortune cookies?  I frequently get ones that have to do with kindness.  At lunch yesterday:  "Make someone smile today and feel your heart smile too."

candycorn

It seems you only see candy corn at this time of year.  I love those sweet colorful candies.  Let's get the candy manufacturers to show a little kindness and have this available all year long.

I'm here for you

Friendship is not about who you have known the longest, but rather who walked into your life, said "I'm here for you" and then proved it.

Pay Back A Friend

I'm told it was a bank promotion that brought about today's Pay Back A Friend Day, but whoever did it, I like the idea.  It doesn't have to mean pay back money.  It can also acknowledge the many things our friends to for us that we often take for granted.  Today, let's be aware of all the giving and be sure to also give back.

Wear Something Gaudy

Want another fun observance?  Well tomorrow is Wear Something Gaudy Day!  I kid you not.  Doing silly fun things can certainly brighten our days, so why not?  In your kindness share that crazy hat or boa with a friend or co-worker.  Before you go to bed tonight, go through your closet and find something really outrageous to wear tomorrow.

Thoughts about kindness

If you are visiting this blog for the first time, I write some thoughts about kindness here every single day.  Sometimes I might quote someone else.  Always I try to me encouraging.  I think the world can always use more kindness.  I would be thrilled to hear from other folks too.  Are folks generally kind to you?  What can all of us do to make this a kinder world?

volunteer to be kind

Yesterday I was at a women's health fair with the hospital where I volunteer.  What a wonderful event.  I saw so much kindness and so many people were thanking me and my fellow volunteers for our service.  Giving my time really makes me feel good, and it is also a great feeling to be appreciated.

Beautiful words about beautiful day

I've quoted a lot of people here who speak of kindness, but one of my favorite thoughts are these words from George Elliston:  "How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!"

Another person

Whenever you encounter another person, you have another marvelous opportunity to again practice kindness.  Don't waste that opportunity.

come out

Today is National Coming Out Day, and while lgbtq visibility is important, so is the visibility of allies.  Want to know what is even more important?  Equality.  Let's make this a world where everyone is treated equally with kindness and mutual respect.

Bring your teddy bear

Today is National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work/School Day (observed on the second Wednesday of every October).   I don't really know how or why this came about, but I have a huge collection of teddy bears (which were my mom's) and anything that has to do with these cute creatures has to be nice and kind!

Just be kind

Your random act of kindness can add happiness to someone's life. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone.  It doesn't have to be for any special reason.  Just be kind!

More kind things we can do

Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person. Open the door for another person. Leave an extra-large tip for the waitperson. Tell a bus or taxi driver how much you appreciate their driving.  Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.  Leave a treat or handmade note of thanks for a delivery person or mail carrier. Treat someone to fresh fruit.  Sing at a nursing home.  Give another driver your parking spot.

Endless ways of being kind

Volunteer at an organization that needs help.  Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter. Buy books for a day care or school. Give toys to the children at a shelter. Volunteer to fix up an elderly person's home. Buy a pack of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day. Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line. There are endless ways of being kind!

Sharing ideas

While I am the writer of this blog and have done a lot of thinking about kindness, I don't have all the answers, so I could use a bit of help.  Would any of you be willing to share some ideas?  There are so many ways to be kind!

Smile Day

World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October every year.  It was the idea of  coined Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts, who also created the Smiley Face back in 1963.  We can never have too many smiles, right?  Share the kindness and the smiles and thank Harvey for urging us on!

No rewards needed

I love doing kind things for others.  It's just a part of who I am.  I don't need thanks or any special rewards either.  Yes, it is nice when folks say thank you and it's also very nice to be recognized, but that isn't my reason for being nice and kind.  When no rewards are needed, you are motivated by something greater, and there is a different kind of reward, one that you feel through your entire being.

Leftovers

Kindness is wrapping up your leftovers to give to the homeless person you pass every day on your street.  Give him the rest of that open package of cookies too!

send a card or letter

People like to know that other folks are thinking of them and what better way to show this than sending a card or letter.  Even an email shows you care.  One of the kindest things a person can do is to care about another human being!

Wear Blue

Blue Shirt Day is a World Day of Bullying Prevention, which takes place annually on the first Monday of every October.  All students and school employees are asked to wear a blue shirt as a visible sign of unity against bullies.  Sadly, bullying isn't confined to schools and so wear blue wherever you are and show love and kindness toward everyone.  So no to all bullying!