grateful

As I grow older, I frequently reflect on this reality: I am so very grateful for the sharing of simple acts of kindness, whenever and wherever they happen.

I want to be a nice person

I want to be a giving person and just a nice person in general. I hope that I along the way I can influence others, not only by my words, but more importantly by my actions.

There can never be too much

Kindness is such a good thing, there can never be too much.  More and more kind acts, and we can still enjoy more of them.  Kindness brings about happiness.  Let's never stop!

We Are The World

"There comes a time when we heed a certain call

  When the world must come together as one."   -opening line of We Are The World, written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, and recorded on this date in 1985 by an all-star cast.  It is still true that the world must come together!

remembering

Remembering the six million victims of the Jewish Holocaust and millions of victims of Nazism on this annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion, the UN urges every member state to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides. Remembering is important, but so is making sure this never happens again.

starting fresh

We are starting fresh today with a brand new year.  How wonderful.  Enjoy the holiday and be kind to yourself and all you encounter along the way.  Let's make 2022 a very kind year!

24th

Today is the twenty-fourth day of this month.  Is that significant? Of course it is! Every single day of our lives is significant. Today is the day when we share love and kindness. Yesterday was that day too, and tomorrow will be as well. The joys of the January 24th are the joys of every single day of our lives!  

on the chalkboard

Did you ever have a teacher who told you to write something over and over on the chalkboard as a learning tool (or as a punishment)?  Go write this 100 times on the chalkboard: I AM A KIND PERSON. Wait! Better yet, let's all just BE a kind person!

no strings attached

Did you ever have someone tell you how many things they had done for you and how you now owe them?  Gifts don't come with strings attached.  In my way of thinking, they gave you nothing at all.  Of course, ii is always very nice to do kind things for those who have done kind things for you, but that should not be your reason. Actually, no reason is necessary at all. Give out of the love in your heart and expect nothing in return. That is the real joy!

endless ideas

I've said before that the list of kind acts is an endless one, and it's true.  Think about it.  What random act can you do today, to make someone's day?  Share some of your ideas here.  Together we can make this a kinder world!

Kind nurse

Due to a lengthy hospital stay, a man was forced to give his dog to the local animal shelter. In an act of great kindness, one of his nurses went to the shelter and adopted his dog. She brings the dog to visit him daily, and when the man is discharged from hospital, she plans to give the dog back to him.  True story that warms my heart!  

100 years old

A few years ago, a woman I knew was turning 100. That doesn't happen every day, but it still is special. What though do you give someone who is 100 years old? I reached out on social media and asked people to send birthday cards. The response wasn't as big as I had hoped, but it was still quite wonderful. Virtually everyone was a stranger to this lady, and yet they took the time to brighten her day with a card. I'm only sorry that the senders didn't get to see her smile!

It's universal

Kindness is the universal language that everyone can relate to.  Deaf people can hear it and blind people can see it.  We can all relate to kindness!

following her example

Yesterday Betty White would have turned 100, and instead of the celebration that had been planned before she passed away last month, I saw a lot of people sharing their fond memories of her, and following her example, there were so many donating to animal related charities.  Kindness was so much a part of who Betty was, and it was heartwarming to see so many share that same kindness and love.

Martin Luther King Jr said

I've quoted people here before, but on this Martin Luther King, Je Day, I want to share some quotes from Dr King that might not be as familiar to you.  + “We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” + “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” + “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” + “No person has the right to rain on your dreams.” + “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” + “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” + “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”

three things

I know I have said this before, but since I agree so much, I just have to say it once more.  The words are from novelist Henry James who said (to his nephew Billy James) "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind." I agree!

halfway

Can you believe we are already halfway through January?  Oh my!  Time flies, huh?  I suppose when you are so busy doing kind things, you really lose track of things like time.

take it easy on yourself

Every year about this time I think of all the folks who made resolutions to begin the year.  How are they doing?  Did the first two weeks of the year make them just want to give up?  Kindness isn't just about others, we need to also include ourselves.  If we fail at something, we shouldn't neat ourselves up.  I happen to think that resolutions come with too much pressure anyway.  Take it easy on yourself.  None of us is perfect.

I'm not perfect

I want to make something very clear.  I'm not perfect.  I doubt if I ever could be.  It certainly isn't my aim.  I want to be a good person.  I want to be caring and kind.  I never have had any interest in being perfect.  I would like to improve my health and I'd like to do a lot more to help make our world a better place.  I don't write this though for you to say, "look at this amazing person."  My words here are only for encouragement, both for you and for me.

good advice

Accept what is,
  let go of what was,
    have faith in what will be.

Aesop's quotes

I love most of Aesop's fables, but I also like a lot of his quotes, like this one.  "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." 

how many

How many things can you say about kindness?  Well at least 1,898 based on the number of posts here so far, but I'm sure there are many more!  I think I should keep on going.  This just might make me a kinder person.  

miracles

Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.

alone

Nobody should have to be all alone.  Folks can choose that of course, but it really shouldn't be forced upon them.  Reach out, even to strangers.  Be a friend to the friendless.  Be kind.

Some special ideas

Kindness?  Here are some special ideas - Let a car into the traffic ahead of you.  Buy flowers for someone (postal worker, grocery store clerk, bus driver, etc.). Bring coffee to a co-worker. Help someone change a flat tire. Post anonymous sticky notes with validating or uplifting messages around for people to find. Compliment a colleague on their work. Send an encouraging text to someone. Buy extra at the grocery store and donate it to a food pantry, 

hot tea

How cold is it right now where you live? Bundle up and share warm wishes with others. A very kind gesture might be to give folks hot beverages - cider is particularly popular at this time of year.  I'm love some hot tea.

12th Night

Christmas ends tonight.  Yes, it's true.  I know some think it began WAY back in October or even September, and it ended on December 25th, but no, that's not how it goes.  Some year I would love to see some old traditions return, like keeping the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Anyway, tonight is Twelfth Night.  Be kind!  Merry Christmas!

Celebrate

How many days until the next holiday?  There are a lot of folks who really look forward to holiday celebrations, especially the gift-giving ones.  I say celebrate every day.  Really.  Make every day special.  Make those around you happy.

being remembered

So many celebrity deaths lately, but I couldn't help noticing the words used to describe several of them: "warm," "nice" and "kind." None of us lives forever of course, but how wonderful to be remembered as nice and kind. Of course, we are kind and warm and nice just to be remembered for this, but what a great fringe benefit.

Betty White's words

Remembering Betty White with her own words: “It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.”

follow Betty White's example

By now you know that the wonderful Betty White died yesterday at the age of 99. I have to mention her here because Betty could easily have been the poster-person for kindness. She was well known for her love of animals, but it really went beyond that. Betty loved live and Betty loved people.  In her honor and memory, let's be extra kind this year.  Let's follow Betty White's example.