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 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!

Kindness makes me happy

Kindness makes me happy - all of it.  I love when people are kind to me of course, but I love being kind and doing kind things and I love seeing others do kind acts to their families and their friends.  I love seeing kindness toward animals too.  One of the most satisfying things in the whole world is kindness!

a tremendous thing

In E.B. White's classic "Charlotte's Web," there is a wonderful passage that means a lot to me:

“Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'

'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

happy birthday to me!

 Do you know what I would really like for my birthday?  A kinder world, that's what!  Let's make it so!

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

How to do it

Do you ever pick up any of those how-to books that show you how to build a bookcase or install plumbing or any number of other instructional things?  Is there a book that shows us how to be more kind?  Perhaps we can all write one.  What is the first step we can take to be kinder people.  Are there any directions you can think of that will increase kindness in our lives?

Inspiration

We all find inspiration from somewhere - our parents, God, perhaps a teacher or close friend. I am inspired by so many people, and some of that inspiration is what got me talking so much about kindness. I have a wonderful friend Toan who inspires me in every single thing he does. He has such a zest for life and enjoying it to the fullest. There's a celebrity who greatly inspires me too. Her name is Ellen and the kind and generous things she does are simply amazing. I'm so lucky to be inspired by so many, and at the top of the list is my late mother. Wow! What a great lady!

Be healthy

Kindness can relate directly to your overall health.  A healthy lifestyle is not just about what we eat.  It is also what we consume emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Have a healthy weekend everyone!

miracles

I don't know a lot about the kindness of Albert Einstein, but I do know of his wisdom. This is one of the most inspiring things he said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Bright light

Even when worries are many and things seem dark, there can still be a bright light of hope!  Be that bright light!

Size doesn't matter

Some folks think size matters.  It doesn't.  It doesn't have to be big.  It need not cost you any money too.  Some of the kindest things we can do are simply being there for someone else and showing that you care.

wise words

"Fighting ignorance with ignorance will get us nowhere.  Sharing our own pain by painting another group of people with stereotypes is NOT the way." -Jeremy Lin

Do you believe in magic?

 If magic really does exist, I am convinced we know it better by a different name:  kindness.

I agree with Dr King

I agree with Dr Martin Luther King, Jr who said "I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear."  

Simple message

 It's a pretty simple message here every day:  be kind.  

kindest day of the year

What is the kindest day of the year? Many folks might say Christmas or Thanksgiving or some other holiday.  How about today? Why can't today be the kindest.  We can make this happen. Start spreading that kindness!  I say this all the time, but it really is true.

anonymous kind gestures

The world does not have to know of your kindness.  It's absolutely fine to be anonymous.  Send someone a gift secretly or tell someone's boss how good they are, without identifying yourself.  Sometimes that anonymous kindness can even be more special.

Way of life

Oh how I love kindness.  For me it's a way of life.  I can't possibly be unkind to anyone on purpose.  It just seems so foreign.

No money involved

Here are examples of some random acts of kindness. Tell your parents or your children why you love them. Make a point of finding the name of a supermarket or drugstore employee and then praise him or her through that company’s corporate office. As you go about your day, pick up trash. When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile. Just a few ideas.  There are many more of course.  One cool thing is none of these involve money.  You can be kind without spending a dime!

You're adopted

Former NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick says "My parents told me from the time I can remember that, 'Yeah, you're adopted. But this is your family.' I can remember my mom, she tells me this story: when I was little, I was looking at her, and I was like, 'Why isn't my skin the same color as yours?' 'Oh, you're adopted, but I wish I had pretty brown skin like you,' said Mom." Wow!  Thanks for sharing this with us Colin.  

hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad

Growing up I remember those wonderful summertime picnics with hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad and maybe some icecream or watermelon.  Those are what I might call kind foods.  (Pizza could go on that list, but it isn't usually eaten at picnics).  Do you have any kind summertime memories from your youth?

beautiful day!

Yesterday was an absolutely day!  I love looking all around at the wonders of nature.  It's cool when you notice other people enjoying it too.  Hopefully today is going to be just as beautiful.

Don't let it disappear!

Just when you began to think that nobody is the world is kind anymore, along comes someone to prove you wrong, and boy is that great.  I actually don't ever think that kindness is ALL gone, but there are times when it seems to be disappearing.  Don't let it disappear!

No place for hate

The hate and violence in various places these past few days is quite discouraging.  I don't even understand the concept.  Love and kindness is so much more positive.  There is always room for more positive attitudes, and as far as I am concerned, there really is no place for hate.

For the future

The earth has been here a long time and it will be around for a long time to come, BUT will it be able to sustain life? Will plants and flowers grow and fish swim in the water and birds fly through the air? Will cows and chickens, dogs and cats, all manner of life, including humans, still roam the planet?  I've been thinking a lot about this.  Climate change is real folks.  Look at the soaring temperatures.  Look at the sea life being cooked in the water.   Be kind to future generations.  We need to act.  

This week ahead

This week ahead I'm hoping will be a good one.  We can't control everything in our lives of course, but we can always be kind.

Make me a list

Every now and then I have given a list in this space of some random acts of kindness.  For folks who are trying to become more kind and to do nice things, I think that can be a good starting point (although it isn't about just being kind sometimes).  Can you think of some random kind acts though?  I'd love to see ideas from someone else.  Let's think about it.

speaking of love

Oh and speaking of love, as I so frequently am, consider these words from Henry David Thoreau: There is no remedy for love but to love more.

Even the plants and trees

Yesterday was such a glorious day where I live.  Even the plants and the trees seemed to be showing kindness to each other.  It's interesting how nice and beautiful always make me think of being kind.

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!

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.