Wonderful!

Yesterday was wonderful.  (I try to make every day wonderful, but yesterday was extra special).  Some people are so filled with love and kindness that it shines forth in all that they do, and spending an hour with such a person yesterday was really wonderful.

Discrimination is NOT kind

I will never understand discrimination in any form.  When I was little I remember the separate drinking fountains labeled "whites" and "colored."  I remember when guys with long hair were thought to be bad.  Oh yeah and there was the looks people gave when they encountered two people of different races together.  Banning gays in the military went on way too long and now apparently we are reintroducing a transgender ban.  Why?  I don't get it.  This is one of the most unkind things I can think of.  How can you ban an entire group of people?

Relax and be kind

Recreation,  travel, and vacationing are all big at this time of year.  School is out for most folks and families tend to do more things together.  Hey, how about a family kindness project?  Sound good?  Even if we are all alone, now is a great time to relax, reduce the stress in our lives, and maybe reduce the stress that others have too.  There is never a bad time to be kind to others, so let's all have fun, enjoy this time of year, relax, and be kind!

How can we become more kind?

Want to become a more kind person? Perhaps you can begin with some of these ideas. Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby. Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter. Volunteer to be a tutor in a school. Tell your children (or your parents) why you love them. Spend some time serving food at a meal program for the needy. Take an acquaintance to dinner. Sponsor people in fundraising walk-a-thons. Pay a compliment at least once a day. The possibilities are endless.

The store clerk

Walking through a department store in a nearby city (the small town where I live has no department stores), I was having a great time browsing.  As I was leaving, I spoke to a clerk near the doors and said I had enjoyed my trip through the store, even though I hadn't bought anything, but now just had to get some coffee.  She smiled, waved, and said "Get some for me too."  I did.  Why not?  It only cost a few bucks more and you should have seen the look on her face.  Her request hadn't been serious - neither of us had even seen the other before.  Her genuine surprise and her joy at receiving that simple cup of coffee, made my day!

Thinking ahead

What really kind thing will you be doing for someone tomorrow or next week?  Think ahead and plan some very special things.  Be bold.  Think ahead to a year from now.  What will you be doing next summer?  Will you be a kinder person?

My 1000th day

One thousand?  The counter for my blog says that today is the 1,000th entry!  Seriously.  When I began this I don't think it ever occurred to me that I would wake up 1000 mornings and write a few lines here about being kind.  Oh my!  Imagine if I had tucked a dollar into a drawer on each of these mornings.  I'd have a nice accumulation - $1,000!  I could take a trip.  Maybe I could donate it and make a difference.  A dollar a day.  Imagine.  Well, I didn't do that (perhaps I will start), but hopefully I became a kinder person.  Maybe I even made a difference for some of you.  Thanks for reading.  I'll be continuing!

On the chalkboard

Go write this 100 times on the chalkboard:   I AM A KIND PERSON.  Wait!  Better yet, let's all just BE a kind person!

Another few minutes in bed

Another few minutes in bed this morning would have made me very happy, but it's not the only thing. Right now, I'll be happy to get some smiles. I'll be happy when I see others who are happy. I'm pretty easy to please. Oh I can get more sleep - I might even go to bed a bit earlier tonight. Right now though, I just want to share some joy!

That kind man back home

There's a man back home whom I met after I had moved away from there.  During a few visits back there I've had an opportunity to chat with him a little, but certainly don't know him well.  I know he is very kind though.  I know he makes a huge difference in my life.  Yesterday I was chatting with someone who also knows him, but not well, and the first thing he said was "he is such a kind man."  What a wonderful way to be known!

A Most Enjoyable Summer

So far for me this has been a most enjoyable summer, and I hope it's the same for you.  Keep on smiling and keep on being kind!

I'll drink to that

Today is National Martini Day.   I'll drink to that!  Maybe this would be a good time to take a friend out for drinks.

The Rock's moving message

“Yes it's important to be yourself, but you gotta recognize the joy and the responsibility of bringing everybody with you,” said Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson during the MTV Movie and TV Awards last night. “You do that by being kind, by being compassionate, by being inclusive, and straight-up, just being good to people, because that matters.”

No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!

"No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!"  Remember that?  Was your teacher really giving you a dirty look?  I'll bet you're sorry you even thought that.  Hey with summer upon us and no school for many (yes, I know there is summer school and year-round school), I'd like to think about all those teachers who make a difference.  Be kind to those who instruct.  It's not an easy job!  I'm grateful for all my teachers from years ago and especially Lou Ella Gridley and Letha Sines.

Dear old dad

You probably already know that today is Father's Day, so be extra kind to dear old dad and to all the fathers in your life (including your grandfathers, fathers-in-law, fathers of your close friends).  Make the day special for them.

You know what else is kind?

Sometimes out of the blue, someone will do something that just warms your heart.  It's easy to talk about kindness and those various things we do for each other, but you know what else is kind?  Simple concern.  The other day I got a phone call from someone who just wanted to be sure I was okay.  She said that she hadn't seen or heard from me in awhile, and was concerned.  What a kind an loving thing to do!

MisterRogers

When I was first aware of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, MisterRogers was spelled as one word.  One of the things I remember from dear Fred Rogers are these words:  "There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind."  

always possible

They tell me the Dalai Lama once said "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."  Listen to the Dalai Lama.  He speaks the truth.

Just one word

One kind word can change someone's entire day!  Think about that.  Just one word.

Make Life Beautiful

Today is National Making Life Beautiful Day and being kind certainly helps make life beautiful! Take a moment and help someone less fortunate, donate time to a worthy cause, help someone in your life to achieve a personal goal, or just do something extra nice for someone.  Spread the word too.  Talk about making life beautiful on social media.

Great weekend

I had a great weekend and kindness was the principle reason.  When people are kind to you, it makes you feel good and when you are kind to others, that makes you feel good too.  Now, lets let that kindness continue into the week ahead!

Tiny ripples

The late Robert F Kennedy was a hero to me.  He said so many encouraging things. This morning I am thinking about when he spoke of tiny ripples, saying  "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Tomorrow is National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day.  This has always been one of my favorite deserts.  If you were to offer me a slice, that would be very kind!  Maybe I will go to the bakery and get a couple of pies to share.  That would be kind too, huh?

Quarters

Doing laundry can be expensive. Buying a bottle of water from a machine is ridiculously costly. Actually any coin-operated machine will likely cost more than you would expect. Surprise others by springing for their wash or beverage or other automated expense. Leave a few quarters near the coin slot of washers, dryers, or other machines, or collect a number of quarters in a plastic sandwich bag and leave it with a "this one is on me" note.  Quarters can make someone's day!

June 6th

It's June 6th!  It's Thursday!  Why am I so happy?  Oh my!  Every day should be happy.  Spread the joy and the happiness.  Be kind.

School is out

For most, school is out.  How do you enjoy the summer?  How about starting by doing some nice things for others.  Maybe you would like to volunteer your time.  Think about it.

Let the silliness begin

Today, for those of you keeping track, is Do-Dah Day, an annual salute to silliness.  Remember, you can be silly and still be ind!

Why so quiet?

So many kind readers out there in cyberspace (a counter tells me when someone clicks on this blog.  It doesn't say who and it certainly doesn't know if you actually read these words, but I would guess that most who come here, actually read what I have written), but everyone is silent.  Oh my!  Please feel free to add your thoughts about kindness below!

Pride

Well, we shouldn't have to have parades and celebrations for LGBTQ Pride because there should be full equality and acceptance of ALL people, but since there is not, we have Pride Month.  We should always be kind of course, but during June pay particular interest to our LGBTQ sisters and brothers and be extra kind!

Welcome June

It's not just any Saturday today - it's the beginning of June, a brand new month and a fresh start for being kind.  What can we do to make this month extra special?  I'll bet there are tons of new ways to show kindness!