do it some more

It's the last day of June.  Tomorrow is Canada Day and a few days later the US celebrates Independence Day.  Every day though is special.  Every day is an opportunity for more kindness.  Has this been a kind month for you?  I certainly hope so.  Now as we go into July, let's do it some more!

testify to love

Songwriters Paul Field, Henk Pool, Robert Riekerk, and Ralph Van Mennen hit a home run when they wrote Testify to Love. On what is LGBTQ+ Pride Weekend in many places, I'm thinking of the incredible lyrics of that song: 

               "For as long as I shall live, I will testify to love
               I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough
               With every breath I take, I will give thanks to God above
               For as long as I shall live, I will testify to love"

remembering a friend

Today would have been the 51st birthday of a dear friend who was the very picture of kindness.  Cancer and took him way too soon.  I will always remember him though and am so grateful he came my way.

Will we ever learn

Many years ago the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said “We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” My question is "Will we ever learn"?

from Aesop

Although I write here in this place every morning about kindness, the words are not always mine. I often quote others. One of my favorites is this simple line from Aesop: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

Behind the music

Todd Rundgren has always been one of my favorite musicians. The moment I hear the first notes of Hello It's Me, I get a lump in my throat. I remember that Rundgren once said "Music is the way I understand how to communicate now, the way that I've learned how to communicate . . . but it will eventually have to go beyond that. You see, I've realized that music is not what keeps people involved - it's the attitude behind the music."

happy life

You do not find the happy life.  You make it.

make my day

Remember the catchphrase spoken by the character Harry Callahan in the movie Sudden Impact? "Go ahead, make my day!" Well today, make someone's day. (No, not like in the film). Just do something kind. There are so many possibilities. In fact, I think together we can make many people's day!

Saturday

It is Saturday the 22nd day of June and it is a day to be kind to one another.  Isn't that true every single day?  Of course it is!  I just wanted to remind us all.  Yes, we should always be kind.

blood

We don't make blood in labs.  When someone in a car accident needs blood, it comes from our donations.  If a cancer patient or a woman in childbirth needs blood, it comes from us.  One of the kindest things a person can do is to donate blood.  I have said this for years, and it is true.  Your blood donations truly save lives.  Think about becoming a blood donor.

telephone

Oh how I wish I could call my mom or my dad or my dear aunt or grandmother.  So much of my family is gone.  Is that true for you?  Don't wait until it's too late.  Just yesterday a woman was telling me her two daughters never call her.  I don't think she liked my response, but I reminded her that telephones work two ways.  You may be hoping for someone to call you, but why not simply call them!

Kind Willie

You have probably heard already that a great athlete passed away yesterday, the incredible San Francisco Giants Legend Willie Mays. Besides his skill in baseball, I keep hearing folks talk about how warm and generous and kind he was. Nice. That is the way a person should be remembered. May we all be that kind!

kind words

Over the weekend I received the novel that a dear friend wrote and so I quickly sent him a message of thanks. He is such a loving and generous person, so I wasn't surprised that he responded to me for thanking him. He also said "your 'kindness blog' is lovely!"  I have no idea how many people actually read these words every day, but his kind words are certainly encouraging, and I am grateful.

Not that long ago

Not that long ago I mentioned hearing of someone's death.  We for some reason had stopped keeping in touch.  I regret that.  There were so many opportunities to say what I felt about this person, but not anymore.  Don't wait.  Tell people who you feel about them now.  Show your love and you concern for those people in your life while you still have a chance.

friendship

"The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?" ―Henry David Thoreau

random acts

I love thinking of those random acts of kindness that really make a difference. Here are some more. Buy books for a day care center or school or donate some from your own library. Donate blood. Volunteer at an organization that needs help. Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter. Give toys to the children at a shelter. There are so many other ideas!

enjoy life

I've said this many times and it is so important. We should all make the most of every day. Enjoy life. Do what we can to makes the world better and help our neighbors to also make the most of every day.

equally

Voltaire said it. “All the citizens of a state cannot be equally powerful, but they may be equally free.”

cures

A kind word, a good laugh, and a long restful sleep are three of the best cures for anything.

It isn't very hard at all

Kindness.  We really aren't talking about a difficult task.  In fact, it isn't very hard at all.  The more we are kind to others, the easier it is to do.  It becomes a way of life.

Be kind to animals

Being kind to our neighbors is important of course, but it is also so very important to be kind to animals.  We hear about animal cruelty a lot, which I find disgusting, and I'd love to see a campaign for humans to remember they share this planet with over 2.16 million animal species.  Let us be kind to them!

It's Sunday

It's Sunday and the beginning of another week.  That might not seem like a big deal, but I am grateful for each and every day of my life and am especially grateful for every opportunity to be kind to others.  So, let's get going!  Where will you be showing kindness today?

one

One word can end an argument.  

One smile can start a friendship. 

One look can save a relationship. 

One person can change your life.

help one another

One of the most beautiful things we can do is to help one another.  Kindness doesn't cost a thing.

what this is all about

Just in case you stumbled upon this blog for the very first time, let me tell you what this is all about. It's pretty simple. This is about kindness. I want to be a kinder person and I want this to be a kinder world. Please help!

Wisdom of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was so very wise. She said, “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

idea

Some ideas: Remember the bereaved with phone calls, cards, plants, and food.  Volunteer to be a tutor in a school. Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person. Volunteer to read to kids in the library. Donate time at a senior center. Send a gift anonymously to a friend. Pay for the person behind you in the movie line.  Give a pair of tickets to a concert or baseball game to a stranger. 

Thank you Mister Rogers

Fred Rogers was always such a comfort and was so encouraging. He told us "Being kind means responding to the needs of others—and people can be kind, no matter how old or young we are."  Thank you Mister Rogers!

Melissa said

“Love is never wrong.” 

       -Melissa Etheridge

the rainbow of humanity

As LGBTQ+ Pride Month begins, I remember these words from rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker: "What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us. It’s all the colors. It represents all the genders. It represents all the races. It’s the rainbow of humanity."