Sunrise music

Does music make you happy? The sun is just now coming up where I am, but I'm already listening to happy peppy music (oldies) and it helps charge me up for the day and it certainly helps me to be happy. I try to be pleasant and kind always, and being happy leads me in that direction. You might say that good music makes me a kinder person.

Just because

“Just because” can be such a sweet reason to do something.  Let's be kind today,  just because.

Pay It Forward Day

I have talked about paying it forward before, and I'm always talking about various acts of kindness, but did you know there was a special day for this? Pay It Forward Day is a global initiative that exists to make a difference by creating a huge ripple of kindness felt across the world. Great idea, huh? I am so excited that there are now have over 80 countries participating in Pay it Forward Day with over 100 state and city proclamations. If where you live isn't involved, change that. Talk to you leaders and keep setting an example, not just on this one day, but every day!

Additional quotes

The past two days, I shared some quotes about being kind, from American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said a lot of things about kindness, but so did many other folks. Do you have a favorite quote you's like to share?

More from Emerson

I love quoting Emerson (like I did yesterday). I really like that he said "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." I also am inspired by these words of his: "Hitch your wagon to a star."

Inspiration from Emerson

I really like these words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." I'm also inspired by this that he said: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

smiling for the eggs

Yesterday I bought 20 chocolate eggs and gave them out to some of my favorite people in the hospital where I work.   Oh my!   I got so many smiles.  One of my favorite things is getting folks to smile.

say it

Do you have wonderful friends?  How about your family?  Do you enjoy the people you work with?  Think about it.  When did you ever say it to them?  Compliments don't cost money because they are priceless.  You really can make someone's day too, and just using a few words.  Don't just think about how much you like someone or something they do.  Say it.

The heat is on

Where I live it is already warming up a LOT.  (That sure was a short spring, huh)?  I'm not good with the hot days - I much prefer cool or even cold.  Be kind to me.  A fan would be nice.

More Kindness

More than anything, I would like to see more kindness.  I really don't understand how anyone could object or disagree.  It doesn't cost money or require special training.  It doesn't even have to cost us any extra time.  Being nice and being kind should be a natural thing that we simply do.

Kind Nana

Grandmothers are always kind, right?  Well mine certainly were.  Grandma (my father's mother) lived far away, but Nana (my mother's mother) lived closer and so I saw her more often.  Nana and I spent a lot of time together in my early adult years when I lived with her for awhile and help out in the gift shop she owned.  Today would have been Nana's birthday and I cannot help thinking of her and how much I miss her.

When skies are gray

Just about everybody knows the song You Are My Sunshine.  There is a line in there that says "You make me happy when skies are gray."  What a wonderful description of another human being, huh?  To me that sounds like they are talking about a very kind person, someone who can make you happy even when they sky is gray.  How lovely to have someone who is your sunshine!  Encouragement.  I am encouraged in many ways, but here is encouragement once again to be kind.

The Call

Yesterday was a busy one for me.  At a bit before five though, everything became wonderful.  It was a caring person calling me on the phone that made everything so special.  People don't seem to take the time these days, for themselves or for each other.  I'm glad this friend took the time though and made that call.  It truly made my day!

Glorious Day!

It looks like a glorious day where I live.  I've noticed that beautiful weather tends to make folks kinder.  With that in mind, I intend to try even harder on those foul weather days!

Jonah Kim on love

My friend Jonah Kim is one of the most inspiring people I know. He says "It's easy to love those who love you, that is, when they love you the way you want to be loved. It isn't so easy to love those who wrong you time and time again. But we are human and we are bound to fail those we love over and over again over the course of a lifetime." Jonah continues "Some say this kind of love can only exist between parent and child. If you have never experienced the desire to love this way, perhaps you haven't learned to truly love yet. This is why divorce rates keep rising; majority of matrimonial vows are defenestrated in the first year because the 'I' is so much more important than the 'love you'." 

Let me count the ways

How many random acts of kindness can their possibly be? Let me count the ways. When a new business opens in town, drop of a plant or fresh flowers to welcome them. You can do the same thing when a new family moves into your neighborhood. Donate blood. Volunteer to be a tutor in a school or perhaps at the local library. Let the shopper behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line. Say nice things randomly to folks on facebook or twitter. Smile. Cheerfully greet those you come in contact with. Oh my! There are so many ways.

Comparison

Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.  Remember that!

Your feedback is welcome

Have you read this blog before?  Do you come here often?  I was just wondering if you would share your thoughts about what you read here or about kindness in general.  I would love to have some feedback.  Just share in the comments section below.

appreciation

Today where I work, the many volunteers are going to be honored.  April is designated as Volunteer Appreciation Month and the 20th of the month is officially Volunteer Appreciation Day.  Whatever day you may select, recognize the importance of those who volunteer their time.  They truly make a difference.

Do you know what day it is

Do you know what day it is?  It's Thursday silly!  You probably thought this was a trick question, huh?  Well make it a kind day.  In fact, let's make every day kind.

many thanks

Every morning I get up and write something here about kindness.  I know I have said this before, but I really cannot say this enough.  Thank you!  Many thanks for being kind people and many thanks for reading my words.  I hope some of them inspire you.

complain less

It may seem like an overwhelming task, but complaining less really does make a difference.  Being positive in a bad situation makes you stand out as a leader.  This doesn't mean life is perfect, but if we all work together in a positive way, we can help it become more perfect.

 

                      

Kind week

I have a feeling this is going to be a very kind week.  I'm certainly going to do my best.  I hope all of you will join me too!

Kind coffee cake

Today is National Coffee Cake Day.  Did you know that?  My mouth began watering the moment I thought about coffee cake and then my heart was glad when I remember that kind cake someone made especially for me.  WAY back when I was just a teen, a lady where I lived used to make a delicious mace cake.  Oh my!  It was so yummy!  I was never able to duplicate it myself, but I mentioned it to a woman a few years ago and told her how much I missed it.  That's where the kind cake came it - she made a wonderful coffee cake with mace that tasted so much like the one I remembered from years earlier.  What a kind thing to do!

nature's kindness

The spring season is probably my favorite.  Oh don't get me wrong - there are wonderful things about all times of year, but in the springtime when we see the fresh leaves growing on trees and the flowers blooming (especially if you live where there has been snow on the ground).  Springtime is an example of nature's kindness.

Upcoming Food Days

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day is coming up. National Peach Cobbler Day too. Yum! Oh and of course there is also Passover and Easter. April has some lovely food days. I feel like a nice grilled cheese sandwich right now. (My favorite comfort food).  Enjoy the month.  Be kind to each other.  Be sure to save some room for the chocolate eggs too! 

reasons why we should be happy

So many people look for reasons to be unhappy.  Why?  There is always good my friends.  Always!  Let's focus on the things we do have, and the reasons why we should be happy!

Hospital kindness

I volunteer at a local hospital.  Unfortunately I have also been a patient there a lot lately as well.  On the plus side though there have been so many kind moments, but things directed at me and things I have observed.  It really warms my heart when I see nurses and doctors and all different hospital workers going above and beyond what they need to do. 

Happiness to you

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  I mean it.  I appreciate that folks read my messages here.  Do come back often.  I write something here every single day.  The theme is being kind to others and to ourselves.  I hope that something I write here inspires you.  Do feel free to forward this to others too.  Much happiness to you always!

no pranks from me

Today is All Fools Day (often also called April Fools).  There will no doubt be all kinds of practical jokes and pranks.  Most will be good natured and funny.  Some, unfortunately, will cross the line.  From me there are no pranks today.  Instead of pranks, I want to offer thanks - thanks to all the people who offered their kindness and support during my recent time in the hospital and thanks to every one of the many hospital workers I encountered, especially the nurse who always had a smile.  You ALL made a difference!