Are you happy?

Are you a happy person?  The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything.  Think about it.

Don't rush

We always seem to be in such a hurry to celebrate Christmas but end up rushing past so many other wonderful moments.  I prefer to do the traditional twelve days of Christmas beginning on December 25th, so it's WAY too early now.  Let's be kind to all the other observances along the way.

Turkey jook

One of my favorite memories of kindness is the time I was given a nice big bowl or turkey jook (some people call it congee or rice porridge) a few days after Thanksgiving.  It was so delicious and I can still remember how good it made me feel.

Give and Remember

Of your kindness, take a moment today to remember the organizations that make a difference in your life and if you are able, donate some time or money to them.  Today is Giving Tuesday and likely you will hear a lot about giving.  I hope you will also remember all those who make this organizations happen.  Remember also two men who were slain on this date forty years ago, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.  May their legacy continue to inspire.

A+

I'm always grateful for your feedback and I especially love it when folks respond to my questions.  Yesterday I gave a homework assignment and (you might have already read his comment, but just in case you didn't) some very wse words were shared:  "If we can each look within, love ourself more, find the compassion and acceptance within ourselves, then we will make ourselves more loving and kind. If we can each do this, then collectively, we will create a better world by making ourselves better, kinder, and more compassionate."  Thanks so much Andrew for this and your previous comments.  You get an A+ on this assignment.  You also have truly inspired me!

Homework

Here's your homework assignment:  Think up a way to make this a kinder world.  (Think up many different ways if you like).  Then, share your suggestions here so that we can all join in implementing those ideas.  Let's see how many different ideas we can come up with!

Three times this month

I have no idea how often folks read these words.  There is a counter that tells me who many people click here, but I don't know if they actually read my words, and I certainly don't know what they think.  One of the kindest things a person can do is to give feedback, and three times this month, a comment has been left.  I so appreciate your kind words.  On Wednesday an anonymous reader wrote "Wonderful thoughts! I am grateful for this blog."  Thanks!  I hope you will keep on reading!

Let's continue to be thankful

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day of course, but why stop being thankful?  Why race ahead to a holiday that is still more than a month away.  Today is traditionally one of the least kind days of the year, as people push and shove to buy things they don't really need and end up obscuring the warm celebration we just had.  Today, let's begin a new custom.  Let's continue to be thankful and let us bring kindness everywhere we go!

spread the turkey around

One of the biggest feasts of the year.  Families serve more food on Thanksgiving Day than at any other time, but what happens with all the leftovers?  Please don't throw away good food!  Make some dinner plates or turkey sandwiches and share them with homeless people, shut-ins, or folks you know who will be alone.  A slice of cake or piece of pie will be joyously received too!

all week and all month

Many folks are already looking ahead to Christmas or other December holidays.  For me though it's one day and it's this month.  I love Thanksgiving - I always have.  People have been talking about it all week - all month.  Yes, the meal is wonderful and getting together with family and friends is always great, but I like the giving of thanks.  There is so much to be grateful for.  For me, it's not just what I do tomorrow, but every day.  Kindness is important every day, and so is gratitude!

Kindness of Ellen

I think the first time I ever saw Ellen DeGeneres was on Johnny Carson's old Tonight Show, and I have loved her ever since. She's a fine actress, comedian, and television host, but there is much more. She makes a difference. Ellen is famous for ending her tv show with "Be kind to one another." It's not just a saying though - she means it, and you can see numerous ways she practices what she preaches, every single day.  How many checks has she given to needy people on her program?  Oh my!

Feeling rested

I am feeling so rested this morning!  How about you?  Did you sleep well?  Now, go out and make it a great day and of course, be kind!

Can you smell the turkey yet?

It's just a few days until Thanksgiving.  Can you smell the turkey yet?  I know many folks get started early.  If it were up to me, every day would be a day of thanksgiving.  We do have a lot to be thankful for!  Think about it this week.

Ideas

What random act can you do today, to make someone's day? Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through. Give blood. Call or visit a homebound person. Say something nice to everyone you meet. Volunteer at an organization that needs help. Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line. Say nice things randomly on people's facebook timeline. Call an estranged friend or family member. The ideas are endless!

Richelle Goodrich says

In her book Making Wishes, Richelle Goodrich says that "Kindness is a magical spell - performed by enlightened beings - meant to enchant hearts and lift weary souls that they might fly."  Oh my!  What a beautiful way of saying it!

Impact

Be kind.  You have no idea what the impact will be, but I'm here to tell you, it's going to be good!

Teddy bears

My mom collected teddy bears and I have a large amount of those bears in my home.  How can you look at or hold a teddy bear and not feel happy?  Well I mention this because today is American Teddy Bear Day.  Celebrate!

hashtag

There have already been a whole bunch of tweets on twitter and posts on other social media, but World Kindness Day is not just a hashtag.  The goal of course is just like mine, to spread kindness throughout the world every day.  A special day though is a good beginning.  Let's all see how many kind things we can do today!

November 12

Yes, today is November 12th, but what else?  Monday, yes.  It is of course another day to show kindness toward others.  I never get tired of saying that.  I hope the world grows a bit kinder each day!

those who serve

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, a day set aside to honor all who have served in our military.  Honoring them does not mean you are in favor of conflict or war.  Show them some love and kindness today.

Over two years

Over two years ago I began writing this blog and each morning I say something here about kindness.  Many of you probably thought I would tire out by now, huh?  We must never get tired of being kind though.  Kindness makes the world a better place!

The Kind Bus Driver

The weather is getting colder where I live, and a local bus driver I know told me that one of her daily passengers boarded the other day, blowing on her hands and commenting on how cold they were.  The driver stopped by a dollar store at the end of her shift and purchased some gloves that were two pair for a dollar.  These weren't fancy elegant gloves, but they are protection from the elements.  Yesterday she gave them to her passenger and told me the lady was delighted.  Such a simple act of kindness not only helped one person, but also inspired me!

Kind songs

Songs with the word kind in the title - how many are there?  Now I'm speaking here of when kind is used as an adjective.  As a noun (meaning sort), there are many.  I was thinking long and hard and came up with only three:  Try A Little Kindness by Glen Campbell, Please Be Kind by Frank Sinatra, and Tim McGraw's Humble and Kind.  Are there others?  There are certainly songs that encourage kindness

Even better

It's going to be a great day.  You know what would make it even better.  Kindness.  Kindness always makes things better!

VOTE

I'm always talking about kindness, and I hope I am always doing kind things.  Being kind to our neighbors, kind to animals, kind to the land and to the spaces that surround us - this is all part of our civic duty. So is voting.  Today is Election Day and each one of us has a voice.  Be heard my friends.  VOTE!

Happy birthday O sister O mine

I have said this many times, but it continues to be true.  One of the kindest people I know, is my sister, who is always doing things for me, and for others.  Today is her birthday and I'm going to try to show some of that same kindness toward her and to others.

Thomas Carlyle said

I just came across a lovely quote from philosopher and essayist Thomas Carlyle.  He said "Without kindness there can be no true joy."

Pretty simple

Being kind is really pretty simple, especially if you take a moment and think.  You don't need a lot of extra money or time.  You don't need special training.  All you need is to care.  It can begin with something as simple as your smile.

Remembering them

Today is a day when in many churches, the departed are remembered.  (Some combine observances and remember the departed with all the saints on November 1st).  In your kindness, stop for a moment today and think of a favorite relative or good friend who has passed away.  Perhaps a gettogether with a mutual friend to remember that deceased person might be helpful.

Long-time favorite

November has been my favorite month for a long, long time.  It may have originally been because of those extra days off from school for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving but later I'm sure the pumpkins and fall leaves had something to do with it.  I LOVE Thanksgiving Day too.  Of course I love every day!  It gives me more opportunities to put smiles on all the faces I see.