Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer was a smart cookie! He told us “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”

Return calls

If someone takes the time to leave you a voicemail, take the time to call him or her back. The same thing is true with email. This isn't just kindness, it's common courtesy.

A Man Named Jeff

This morning I am remembering a man named Jeff who during his life was a tireless champion for social justice.  He cared so very much about people and their rights.  May we all care and work for true liberty and justice for everyone!

Social media kindness

Today is my birthday and I woke up to numerous kind wishes on facebook.  It is very likely that more will follow as the day goes on.  It's nice, but at the same time a bit odd.  Some of the remarks come from people I will not hear from again until my next birthday.  How nice it would be if we showed the same concern for each other every day - not just on social media too, but also in real life.

One

One smile, can start a friendship.
One word, can end a fight.
One look, can save a relationship.
One person can change your life.

Happy Monday

So often I hear people moan about Mondays.  Even the song says that "rainy days and Mondays always get me down."  Don't buy into that kind of negativity!  Any day can be happy.  Let's make it so.  Happy Monday everyone!

inspirational thought

"Ten years from now, make sure you can say you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it."  An inspirational thought from Mandy Hale.

We need more kindness

I've quoted Ellen DeGeneres here before. What can I say? She inspires me! I was especially stirred when she said "If we're destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there's got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that."

The important I

The "I" before "miss you" and "love you" is important.  Think about it.

the fundraiser folks

I will never get over how kind total strangers can be.  Someone I know, who was living paycheck to paycheck, lost her job and was fearful that she and her dogs would become homeless.  I started an online fundraiser for her and folks just started chipping in.  I don't know how much we will raise, but we are off to a good start.  Most of the donors don't know her and some of them don't even know me!

don't worry

When was the last time you solved a problem by worrying about it? Seriously. Worry is irrelevant. It alters nothing. Bobby McFerrin got it right! Don't worry be happy!

from a very wise person

A very wise person (I don't know who) once said "Enjoy life today, because yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is never promised."

One

One smile, can start a friendship.  One word, can end a fight.  One look, can save a relationship.  One person can change your life.

Everybody

In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, you'll find these words:  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Now please note there is no asterisk. It doesn't say except for people of color or people with blue eyes or people who are gay or Jewish people or transgender or any other exception.  It says all, meaning everybody!

what makes me happy

Do you know what makes me happy?  It's really quite simple.  I love making other people happy!  There is nothing better than seeing someone smile or laugh.  It really feels good when someone tells you that you made their day.  It's like a circle.  I make you happy, and that in turn makes me happy!

Be a true friend

True friends are always there for you.

Fake friends only show up when they want something from you.

Be a true friend!

Kind Arnel

How many of you know who Arnel Pineda is?  Those of you who do, know that he is an extremely talented singer, currently the frontman for the band Journey.  You should also know that he is very kind.  He could well be the posterperson for this blog.  Kindness seems to be his way of life, and that is indeed a wonderful thing.  Thanks for making a difference Arnel!

Making a difference together

Yesterday I started a fundraiser for someone who is having a really difficult time.  She has three small dogs and of course her own expenses and is currently without any income.  I didn't know how much I could raise to help her, but I had no idea so many kind and generous people would come forward and chip in.  Donations have already come in just the first day, from over a dozen people.  Working together we certainly can make a difference!

The world needs more of it

Kindness.  The world needs more of it.  Let's all do our part and share kindness every single day!  We will never have too much.

rainbow

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

We can change

Not a very kind person?  Well it doesn't have to be that way.  I woke up this morning hearing a wonderful story of redemption and I thought about all the mean folks who became nice folks.  Yes, it happens.  Never give up.  Oh and just because you do nice things occasionally doesn't make you a nice person.  Let's never turn away from good, but always strive to be more kind.

an always thing

Being kind is not just an occasional thing. It's not just once in a while. It's isn't one of those from time to time things. Being kind is a daily thing, an always thing.

Kindness and gratitude

The more you practice kindness, the better you will become at being kind!  The same is true with gratitude.  The more you practice gratitude, the better you will become at being grateful!  Pause for a moment to appreciate something and give thanks for it!

There is much more

Some of you, especially those who read these words every day, might ask "Is there anything more that can be said about kindness?"  Stick around.  Keep reading.  There is MUCH more.  Be kind!

the deaf and the blind

Mark Twain said "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  I think about that quote often.  Being kind doesn't require any sound or vision.  Amazing.

as simple as that

Be kind 

It's really just as simple as that!

words that you can't utter

Waking up this morning, I was thinking of these words from James Earl Jones: "One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter "

self training

We would all do good to train ourselves to live in the present without regretting the past or fearing the future.

Life is like a camera

Life is like a camera, not a box of chocolates. Focus on what is important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out, take another shot.

find yourself

Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere,
and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.

About August

When I was little, August was my favorite month.  Not only was I out of school for the summer, but this is the month when my birthday occurs.  Since then I have met a number of folks with August birthdays, including a dear friend who will be celebrating today and another who celebrated the same day as me.  I don't know if this is still m favorite month, but it's certainly another chance to show kindness to everyone!