Happy Halloween!

Costumes and candy!  Oh my!  This day also has so many built-in opportunities for kindness.  How creative can you be?  Be especially kind today to the children who are dressing up and trick-or-treating.  Oh, and have fun too!

comments

I'm grateful for the opportunity to share some thoughts here in this space every morning and there is a counter that tells me how many people click on here each day, but it cannot tell me if you actually read these words and what you might think about them.  Every now and then if you take a moment to comment here I would appreciate it.  I'd especially like to hear your own stories of kindness.

Homework Assignment

I do have many ideas, but I'd love to hear what you have to say as well, so here's your homework assignment: Think up a way to make this a kinder world.  Feel free to 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!

from Making Wishes

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." What a beautiful way of saying it, huh?

remember

Remember: You are special. You have purpose. You are loved.  Never forget that. This is true of every single person.  Remember it.  Remind others too. You are special. You have purpose. You are loved.

Obama on Change

Now more than ever, let us not forget the wise words of former President Barack Obama, who said "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

It's really pretty remarkable

Kindness has a way of lifting us up, just like the eagle soars high above.  Kindness brings out the best in us and those around us, allowing us to reach new heights of compassion and understanding.  It's really pretty remarkable!

from Archbishop Tutu

Remember the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu who said "Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

as natural as breathing.

I don't know when (or if) everyone will catch on, but being kind is such an easy thing and important thing.  I hope that someday it will come as naturally for everyone as breathing.  We can do it!  I KNOW that we can!  Be kind!

Ella

I always enjoyed the music of Ella Fitzgerald, but it wasn't just her wonderful singing, Ella said some pretty inspiring thing too. She said "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."  I agree.

inspiring

I love those who inspire us, like that Ralph Waldo Emerson said "What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you."

personal growth

The path from desire to action is not just about achieving goals. It is also about personal growth and transformation.  I certainly want to grow as a kind person.

knowledge and wisdom

About knowledge and wisdom, a wise person (I'm not sure who) had some profound words.  "Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life."

wonderful quote

I'm sure I've shared this wonderful quote here before. It's one of my favorites and comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. "You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."

Be civil

Sometimes all the arguing in the world makes me want to scream, especially in the areas of politics and religion.  Let's be civil and let's be kind.

I want to be one

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

footprints

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."  Lets all try to leave some footprints!

how many ways

How many ways are there to say "be kind"?  Well, if we are basing the answer on the number of posts here in this blog, it would be over 2,400 but that is only a tiny part of it all.  We all show kindness in our own ways, and that is a wonderful thing.  The ways are endless!

who

Every one of us have met someone who is kind.  If we are fortunate enough, we have met several people who are.  Kindness is not just for family and friends.  Hopefully we encounter kindness in the workplace, at school, when we are shopping, and even from the celebrities we enjoy.  Think for a moment about who might be on your list of kind people.  Let's all do our best to add to the world's kindness.

cans

My grandmother used to keep an empty coffee can to collect any coins she might accumulate during the day.  When the can was full, she'd donate it.  Another thing about cans, many of them are recyclable.  That is indeed kind to the planet. Many people participate in food drives to help out those who may have little or no food.  Food in cans is especially good because it lasts longer.

Light Up My life

Remember back when Debby Boone sang "You Light Up My life"? It's a happy song because lighting up someone's life is such a kind and happy thing to do. Today and every day, do your best to light up someone's life!

gifts don't come with strings

Gifts don't come with strings attached.  Has someone ever told you how many things they have done for you and how much you now owe them? In my way of thinking, they gave you nothing at all.  Of course, it 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.

kindness for the animals

Do you have a dog or cat or any pets at home? Are there any animals around the places you frequent? Sometimes when we talk about kindness, we forget about the animals, and they need kindness too. Treat the animals of the world with the same love, kindness, and respect that you like to have shown toward you.

surrounded by kindness

For some it just comes naturally.  I think so of it has to do with tradition and how people act around you.  If we are always surrounded with kindness, then it would seem we are more likely to be kind.  Of course I am no expert.  What do YOU think?

Now

I keep hearing the stories from funerals of friends and loved ones commenting on how much they loved the departed person.  Yes, this is good to be sure, but I can't help wondering if they said that while the person was alive.  Never wait to express your positive feelings toward someone.  Let them know you love them NOW.

Some kind things to do

Some kind things we can all do:  Donate time at a senior center.  Make a point of finding the name of a supermarket or drugstore employee who helped you, and then praise him/her through that company’s corporate office.  Tell your parents/children why you love them.  Share your smile generously.  Call or visit a homebound person.  As you go about your day, pick up trash.  Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter.

self kindness

You are not too old and it's not too late. Never give up. Be kind to yourself. You never know what your future might bring.

Everything is not about YOU

Pandemics are real, whether or not you know someone who is sick. Racism is real, even if you are not a racist. White privilege is real, even if you don't feel it. Police brutality is real, even if that cop you know is kind and just. Your world isn't THE world.  Everything is not about YOU.  Burying your head in the sand and pretending something does not exist, won't make it so.

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!

Not a guru

More than once, someone has called me the Kindness Guru. An expert on kindness? Oh, dear no! Wouldn't it be great if we could all be an expert?  I do look for our world to be kinder each day. That requires us all to do our part, and that certainly includes me. This blog is meant to encourage the readers, and also to encourage me. I hope I will become better each day.

look forward

"Look forward with hope, not backwards with regret."  Wise words, huh?  (It isn't an original thought, but I can't recall who said it).