Such a kind thing to do

Over the past few years, I have written lists here several times, of various acts of kindness we can do for others.  Some are big, and some are small.  Some take money and some take time, but many are easy to do just as you days rolls along.  I hear word often about how wonderful such things make people feel, and not just the receiver, but the doer as well.  Can you add to the list of kind acts?  Please feel free to write in the comments section below.

Show the world you care

 Let your family and friends and coworkers and everyone know that you care.  Indeed show the world you care.  Caring is the beginning of being kind

Cookies

She posted pictures on facebook.  They looked so good.  I jokingly commented that she should have made some for me.  She did.  About half an hour after I posted my comment, there was a knock at my door, and here was this lady with a plate of cookies for me.  So very nice, and despite my comment, it was also quite a surprise.  This is kindness!

Weird Summer

This is certainly the most weird summer I have ever experienced.  We are all going through a lot of difficult moments.  Are you finding it harder to be kind to others?  That certainly is understandable, but let's not let the situation get the better of us.  Kindness can get us through difficult moments!

She lived to a ripe old age

Over the weekend, Olivia de Havilland passed away at the age of 104.  Nice long life, huh?  One of the things we always measure about people is how long they are here.  The obituary says "She lived to a ripe old age."  But wait, there is so much more.  "She was a kind and loving person."  That is what we all should work toward.  It's not the how long that should be important.  I have always been encouraged by those wonderful words from Pippin:  "And don't you see I want my life to be something more than long."

So rewarding

You know I agree with the young singer Mary Lambert when she said "Treat others as you wish to be treated. Don't just be nice, but be kind to other people. That can be so rewarding."  Rewarding indeed!

Is kindness something we learn?

Did someone teach you to be kind? Did you observe your grandmother or your mom, or perhaps a teacher and learn from seeing them, or did you become a kind and thoughtful person all on your own? I wonder, just how much is nature and how much is nurture?

A tongue has no bones

We should all be careful with our words.  A tongue has no bones, yet it is strong enough to break a heart. Let's all think about what we say.

Hold that door

Remember when folks always opened a door for a woman? How about when people see someone else coming and keep the door open for you? Remember? Oh and if you saw someone running to catch the elevator you are on, same thing. It doesn't seem to happen as much as it once did. Something as simple as holding the door open can make someone's day. It really can, and it's such an easy kind act!

role models

Basketball superstar Jeremy Lin is someone I always find inspiring. Lin said "I think right now the way society's going, I think role models are important, and kids need direction. If I didn't have that direction growing up, who knows what I could be doing, because I've been lost many times in my life, and I've had to have someone guide me back on the right path."

Kind year

2020 won't be remembered as a kind year.  Oh my!  So many terrible things.  Hopefully we will be seeing some good around the corner, and of course we can control a lot of the good ourselves.  We can help spread around that kindness!

thankful

I am so very thankful for the people who were part of my medical procedure on Friday and who supported me in a (virtual) charity event yesterday.  There are so many wonderful kind people in this world and I am thankful to have so many of them in my life!

If

If you don't go after what you want, you will never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always going to be no. If you don't step forward, you'll always be in the same place.

Close up

I got to see lots of kindness close up yesterday when I went for a medical procedure.  So many wonderful caring people.  That was very encouraging.  Oh and my surgical event went well and all is well with my health.

Remember me

Some things we can achieve in life, and other things are out of our hands. We can try to be the richest or the best looking or the tallest or the fastest, but what do any of those things really mean? Years after someone meets me, I'd prefer for them to remember that I was nice to them. They don't have to recall my sense of humor or my incredible physique. I'd much rather have them remember that I was kind to them, and to others.

Give it some thought

Some days it might come naturally, and at other times you might have to think a bit.  There's really nothing wrong with that.  Sometimes those special kind acts that we think up are pretty wonderful indeed.  If like me you are trying to become more kind each day, just give it some thought.

Kind health care workers

We think of nurses and doctors and all health care workers as people who are kind, but sadly that isn't always the case.  A nursing assistant at the hospital where I volunteer, got talking with a patient about a Filipino band.  I joined in the conversation and the patient was all smiles.  Then the aide brought out her phone and she actually had a video of the band we had been talking about.  Lots more smiles followed.  Kindness is such great medicine for healing.

Good summer

Are you having a good summer?  Yes, it sure is an odd one.  Hopefully things will be getting better soon.  Let us continue to be kind to each other.

The kindest thing you do this week

What do you think will be the kindest thing you do this week? Oh there are certainly a lot of loving and nice things we can all do for each other, and everyone can add suggestions, but I like the idea of always trying to outdo myself? Let's be kind to everyone! Let's put some smiles of those faces!  Let's all try to be more kind than we ever have been before.

Kindness guidebook

Taking a page from our kindness guidebook, how about buying an extra meal when you go into that fast food place, and give it to the homeless person you passed outside? With so much road rage, be different. When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile. Say something nice to every single person you encounter today. Volunteer at an organization that could use your help. The ideas are endless!

ice cream

Strawberries and vanilla ice cream and whipped cream - I'm not sure why that popped into my head.  Oh!  I remember the wonderful ice cream socials that used to happen every July when I was growing up.  It was mostly a chance to hang out with lots of people (something we can't do these days) and to eat lots of yummies (something we also probably shouldn't be doing).  Be kind to yourself.  Indulge in something that makes you happy.  Ice cream?  Perhaps.

a list

So my friends, let's list some things.  Tell me (in the comments below) what you think is the kindest thing someone could possibly do.  We need some special ideas, in addition to just being nice.

strangers

Someone once said (I really don't remember who it was) that strangers are just friends we haven't met yet.  How true!

Do you remember the Story Lady?

She may have been called something different, but there was probably a story lady, someone who read to you in school when you were little, or perhaps it was in the library or a local community center.  It might have been a teenager or an older person.  It might even have been a man.  Oh and reading for others isn't limited to children.  Reading to the blind or the elderly is pretty wonderful too.  While some of these folks might be paid, many are volunteers.  What an incredible act of kindness, huh?  Even while we are social distancing, we can still read - try doing a video chat or even just over the phone.

In the mail

Yesterday in the mail there was a gift - actually several gifts together in the same envelope.  There was a gift card included, with the words Just because written on it.  I was actually moved to tears.  I'm always talking about kindness and here was such a wonderful example.  Oh my!  Many thanks to a super person who truly made my day!

Those Dreams

I have said this before, but it is so true.   If you can dream it, you can achieve it.  Don't ever give up. Oh and when you accomplish your own dreams, reach out and help some other folks do the same thing with theirs.

What does it mean

Kindness.  I write about it here every day, but what does it mean?  Is being kind something we should all be doing?  Well my answer to that is yes.  Yes indeed!  What are your thoughts though?  I ask every now and then, but you are always welcome to comment and to share your thoughts.

We hold these truths to be self-evident

"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. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." -from the Declaration of Independence, approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776

Invisible people

There was a time - there really was, when folks spoke to each other. More and more it seems like people are texting or otherwise involved with some electronic device. You can say hello to someone and be ignored and you can smile and offer a cheery "Good Morning!" without even a return glance in your direction. It can make you feel invisible! When someone smiles back though, it make a huge difference. When you are noticed, the feeling of kindness can melt your heart.  We are not invisible people!

Go forward

Stop looking backwards. You aren't going that way! Stay in the present moment. Be here now. Go proudly forward!

July

Well the past few months certainly have been odd.  Now we begin a brand new month.  July is here, the month of our nation's birthday!  May this be a month of kindness for us all and may things improve in our lives.