Random acts of kindness

Every now and then I have listed things we can all do to show kindness toward others. Here are some more: Volunteer to be a tutor in a school. Buy a pack of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day. Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line. Invite someone new for dinner, either in your home or in a restaurant. Give toys to the children at a shelter. Say nice things randomly to facebook and twitter friends. Buy some bottles of water and randomly hand them out to strangers on the street. Drop off a plant or a plate of cookies to your nearby police or fire station. Please add your own ideas below!

do my best

"I will do my best. That is all I can do.  I ask for your help - and God's."
                                              -Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States

Love is Love

Marriage equality didn't just happen overnight. I remember Gavin Newsom's first directive. I remember the in and out of court. I remember the public protests and being out there with hundreds of others.  I remember the moments of great disappointment (like the passing of Prop 8) and moments of great joy. I have had the great privilege of participating in a number of same-sex weddings.  Every single time I rejoice that love has indeed won. Hearing of yesterday's nuptials of two more friends of mine, truly warms my heart. In the midst of a very bleak year, it's wonderful to see that good things do still happen and we need to keep working to insure that there are more. Never give up!

We are the change

Today seems like an appropriate time to remember 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."

Kindness for the pizzaman

Carlos Valdez is my new hero. He raised $12,000 on TikTok for an 89-year-old man who was delivering pizza to make ends meet. It is so wonderful to see people caring about each other like this.  It truly is a heartwarming story!

One Fine Morning!

I woke up listening to the Lighthouse hit One Fine Morning, and now I just know that it indeed is going to be one fine morning and one fine day!

We're not out of the woods yet

Lest you forget, a reminder that COVID-19 is still with us!  We're not out of the woods yet folks.  One of the kindest things we all can do during this pandemic is to always wear a face mask when in public. We can slow this down and possibly even end it, just by showing respect for others. Physical distance, washing hands, and wearing a mask can truly make a difference!

still going

When I began writing about kindness four years ago, someone told me I would run out of things to say in just a few days. Were they being unkind? Ha! There is always more to say about kindness, and I intend to write something here every single morning! Please be kind.

Odd

I'm probably odd, but I love the winter! The cold months are my favorite and where I live the weather is just beginning to turn. Today is the first day of autumn.  I'll be so happy as the heat disappears. Of course I love the beauty of the summer months and I love to see people enjoying themselves. Maybe I'm not so odd after-all. Enjoy your day wherever you live!

Pumpkin spice

I'm seeing pumpkin spice products all over the place once again.  How come it isn't year-round?  Would we tire of it if we had too much?  I hear people talk about too much of a good thing, but to me that is impossible.  Could there be too much kindness?  How about too much love?  I don't think so!  

Also from her mouth

So many are talking about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and for good reason. She was a remarkable person. Take this piece of advice of hers, “If you want to influence people, you want them to accept your suggestions, you don’t say, ‘You don’t know how to use the English language,’ or ‘how could you make that argument?’ It will be welcomed much more if you have a gentle touch than if you are aggressive.”

Justice Ginsburg said

The world is remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and all she did.  What a kind and caring person who truly made a difference!  This quote from her sticks in my head:  "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

Happy New Year!

As many of you know, the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset tonight.  For our Jesish sisters and brothers, it marks the beginning of a 10-day period known as the high holidays, filled with self reflection, making amends, and celebrating hope.  Whether or not you celebrate, I sincerely wish you peace, love, and good health, now and always.

Learning from Emerson

So many wise things came from Ralph Waldo Emerson, like "Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."  He also said "The only way to have a friend is to be one." I learn so much from reading his quotes.

Oh how I love kindness

I love when folks are kind to me of course, but I love seeing people be kind to others too.  Oh my!  Is there anything so wonderful as kindness?  I hope that someday everyone in the whole world will be kind to everyone else.  No fighting - not hate - a world overflowing with love and kindness!

Kind or not

Being kind isn't something most people stop and thing about.  Should I be kind today or not?  Nobody should ever want to choose not being kind!  Of course we are all human and from time to time we do things without thinking.  That's why I suppose thinking about kindness can be a very good thing.  We can remind ourselves of the rewards that come from being kind to others and when others are kind to us.

On the Road

Remember the late CBS newsman Charles Kuralt, who did those wonderful "On the Road" segments? Mr Kuralt once said "The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines."

To Do

Are you a planner?  Do you make out a daily list of things to do?  One thing that should always be on the list: Be kind!

Anthony

I first met Anthony when he was a nursing assistant at the hospital where I volunteer.  The other day I noticed he is now a nurse - one of the best I ever have seen.  I told him so.  I have seen his great kindness toward his patients.  He told me he likes to make people feel good.  Isn't that what nursing is all about?  Actually, I think that is what life is all about!  Thanks for your kindness Anthony!

No tragedy porn please

September 11, 2001 was unquestionably the most terrible day of our age. We have memories of where we were that day and have the terrible images burned into our souls. Those images cause mental anguish and pain, and reengage raw emotions for those who were there, who lost loved ones, and who lived in those places.  We don't need to see images on social media or tv newscasts.  That is certainly not a kind thing.  There is so much currently bad in the news, we certainly done need repeated images of the past.  Please be kind.  "Tragedy porn" does no good to anyone.

Summertime

I woke up hearing Al Jarreau on the radio singing "Summertime." No one ever quite sang "Summertime" like Al Jarreau. Oh my! What a lovely way to begin a day.

Mr Pineda

I could probably write here about Arnel Pineda every single day.  I have seen him do some amazing things and I have heard about others.  It's not often that a rock star is thought of as a kindness hero, but I can say that about Mr Pineda (and a few others).  I want to say thank you.  That kindness truly makes a difference.

Our theme song

Probably very few of you recall when Bob Keeshan  as Captain Kangaroo sang "It's Another Be-Good-To Mommy Day" on his children's tv program, but I think of that song often when I write these words each morning. Perhaps we could make it our theme song and change the words to It's Another Be-Kind-To Others Day.  Ready?  Let's sing!

Bring back the welcome wagon

There was a time when neighbors welcomed new neighbors.  If someone was moving in to a house of apartment close by, you dropped by with a fruit basket, some fresh bread, or maybe a nice cake.  Sometimes individuals did it and sometimes it was part of an organized official "welcome wagon."  One things is certain though - it was a very kind gesture!

Color

Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color!  Can you imagine a rainbow with only one color?  oh my!

laugh as much as I cry

Everything that came out of Maya Angelou's mouth was inspiring, or so it seemed. Ponder this statement of hers: "My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return." I particularly like the "laugh as much as I cry" part. Human emotion.

Not an expert

Kindness is something I strive for in myself, but I am certainly not an expert.  I love when folks are good and kind toward me, and I get a genuinely wonderful feeling when I am the recipient of the kindness of others.  That doesn't mean I am perfect.  That doesn't mean I don't need help along the way.  I always welcome suggestions of how I can be more kind.

touch

If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. 

If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. 

If you want to touch the future, touch a life.

                                   -author unknown

Heroes of Mister Rogers

Children's television host Fred Rogers said some remarkable things which often come to mind, like "Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me."  He also said more about heroes:  "We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility.  It's easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.'  Then there are those who see the need and respond.  I consider those people my heroes.'  I agree.  One more thing though - to me, Mister Rogers was also a hero.

Odd anniversaries

As we enter September, we mark the continuing struggle against social injustice.  What will it take folks?  Really.  What will it take.  We also mark some very obvious signs that climate change is real.  I have believed science all along.  Hopefully there are a lot more believers now.  We are going into six months of this COVID-19 pandemic and next week will also remember the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th.  Be kind to one another.  Work for good.  Be positive.  Let's make the change that needs to happen!