Last chance

Today is your last chance to show kindness in February this year.  Oh that's not a bad thing.  March is coming right up and we can be kind every single day.  There is never a time when being kind is not appropriate.  There is really never a last chance, because we can be kind again over and over.

We must do

The actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, was also a poet and philosopher.  One of the most profound things Lee is known to have said is "Knowing is not enough; We must apply. Willing is not enough; We must do."

checking in

How are you doing?  How about your family, your friends, you neighbors?  We probably don't actually know each other, but it is still kind to check in from time to time.  I hope things are going well for you this February and that even better days are just ahead!

Kinds of Kind

I can kinda think of many kinds of kind - can you?  Haha!  Yes, I know, kindness is a way of life - a showing of care and concern for others, and yes, there are many "kinds" or ways to do this.  In fact, I think the ways are never-ending!

Are you a kind person?

I have a question for you.  Are you a kind person?  I mean really.  Would other people describe you that way?  If so, that's wonderful!  Keep it up!  We should all strive to be kind people.  

Lift up your thoughts

Days can be long when we spend our time moping about aimlessly, thinking only negative thoughts, but when we lift up our thoughts, and work toward a happy a productive day, the world suddenly gets brighter!

From the mind of John Ruskin

Prominent social thinker, art critic, writer, and philanthropist John Ruskin once said "Kind hearts are the garden, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the blossoms, kind deeds are the fruit."  It really paints a lovely picture.

A long, long time ago

A long, long time ago on the radio, I used to close by saying "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." I've probably told you this story before, but a listener called in and thanked me for saying that. She said it was her daily reminder to be nice to others. I'll never forget that.  It continues to be a reminder for me too.

Don't change

Remember that being kind also means being kind to YOU.  Don't change yourself for other people. Let them accept you for who you are, not who they want you to be.

Less judgmental

Oh how I want to be kinder.  I also want to be less judgmental. I know I sometimes have an excessively critical point of view, and that certainly isn't very kind.

Words from Saint John Chrysostom

"No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great." -John Chrysostom

ashes

"Ash Wednesday, with its visible sign of dust and ashes on our foreheads, is a forcible reminder of our own frailty and mortality and sinfulness. We don’t like to remember those parts of ourselves, but on this day, it is literally rubbed onto us."  -Paul J. Willis

Alleluia

Alleluia (or hallelujah) goes on vacation every year about this time.  During the days of Lent, it isn't said, as the joy of Easter is anticipated.  People give up more than just a word too.  Folks abstain from meat or pastries or candy or any number of foods or drinks.  I'm not here to condemn that or say it is wrong, but what if we added things during Lent?  How about if we were more intentional about being kind?  That is my goal - to do at least one more kind act every day.

February

Despite all the problems in our world these days, February is being very kind to us with a whole string of commemorations.  Last Friday was Lunar New Year (with many observing the eve on Thursday as well).  Yesterday brought is Valentine's Day.  Today in the US is Presidents Day (although some states use a different name).  Tomorrow we have Fat (or Shrove) Tuesday leading into Ash Wednesday.  Oh my.  Let every one of them be kindness days!

testify to love

Songwriters Paul Field, Henk Pool, Robert Riekerk, and Ralph Van Mennen Testify to Love, which is what many of us will be doing this Valentine's Day weekend. I'm thinking of the wonderful lyrics of that song: "For as long as I shall live I will testify to love. I'll be a witness in the silence Says the words are not enough. With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above. For as long as I shall live I will testify to love."  Let's not save it all for one day a year though.  We can testify every single day!

The message of this blog

The message of this blog is easy to understand.  The message of this blog is a simple one.  The message of this blog is for us all to be kind!  Happy Saturday everyone!

Happy New Year!

Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year, is a big deal in many parts of the world. The biggest part of the celebration is annual reunion dinner, which would have happened last night but because of COVID-19 was hopefully not observed as widely this year.  This has always been a favorite day of mine (actually the celebration traditionally last a lot longer).  This is the Year of the Ox, and I hope it is a happy and prosperous one for all of you!

profile words

Sometimes people's social media profiles really grab me.  Yesterday I saw one that read "Love is the answer. Spread the light. Kindness is the new cool."  I like that!  That's another great reason for being kind - it's the new cool!

A few random acts

Give your full attention to someone in need and simply listen. Sponsor people in fundraising walk-a-thons Send a gift anonymously to a friend. Tell your parents/children why you love them.  Bring coworkers a special treat. When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile. Pay a compliment at least once a day. Make telephone calls in support of equality urging others to put aside hate. Give public testimony about an important civic matter. Even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, there are still so many random acts of kindness!

Maya Angelou said

I have quoted Maya Angelou here before (and I'm sure I will again).  She was an amazing woman.   I really like when she said "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.

bleak midwinter

There is a lovely poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti "In the Bleak Midwinter," commonly performed as a Christmas carol. This time of year in the northern part of the world is actually midwinter, and for many, it is bleak.  It doesn't have to be though.  Feeling cold and miserable?  Well warm things up!  Brighten the day by doing some nice thing for someone else.  Make someone's day.  Thaw the winter chill and be especially kind.

Compliments

It always feels so nice when someone pays you a kind sincere compliment.  It's such an easy thing to do too!  I'll bet if we all give it a try, when can come up with a compliment for just about everybody and wouldn't that make for a lovely day?

Happy Saturday!

It's the end of the week (a WongFu week - WAIT!  Only some of you will get that).  Anyway, it is indeed the end of another week.  Has it been a good one for you?  Have people treated you kindly?  Have you been kind to others?  Let's see what we can do in the week ahead!

About that glass

Is there optimism or pessimism in your life?  Perhaps a bit of both?  About that glass - you know, is it half full or half empty?  It seems to me that we sometimes think about that too much and should simply be grateful to have the glass!

cancer

Today is World Cancer Day. We all agree that cancer is horrible, but I am reminded of these words from Greg Anderson, founder of Cancer Recovery Foundation International. “Cancer opens many doors. One of the most important is your heart.”

reminder

While not everyone is kind, that is not a reason for anyone else to be unkind! Even if someone is mean to you, remember this: You are special. You have purpose. You are loved. Never forget that. This is true of everyone. Remind them too. You are special. You have purpose. You are loved.

smiling

Who was the last person you saw smile, and why were they smiling? Have you looked in the mirror recently? Were you smiling? There's really something special about a smile!

new month

Today begins a brand new month.  February is sometimes thought of as the "love month" because of Valentine's Day on the 14th.  It might therefore be one of the kindest.  That indeed would be a very good thing!