do it some more

It's the last day of June.  Tomorrow is Canada Day and a few days later the US celebrates Independence Day.  Every day though is special.  Every day is an opportunity for more kindness.  Has this been a kind month for you?  I certainly hope so.  Now as we go into July, let's do it some more!

testify to love

Songwriters Paul Field, Henk Pool, Robert Riekerk, and Ralph Van Mennen hit a home run when they wrote Testify to Love. On what is LGBTQ+ Pride Weekend in many places, I'm thinking of the incredible lyrics of that song: 

               "For as long as I shall live, I will testify to love
               I'll be a witness in the silences when 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"

remembering a friend

Today would have been the 51st birthday of a dear friend who was the very picture of kindness.  Cancer and took him way too soon.  I will always remember him though and am so grateful he came my way.

Will we ever learn

Many years ago the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said “We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” My question is "Will we ever learn"?

I may be wrong

I was just thinking, and I may be wrong, but there was a time when writing words like I do here every morning, would be totally unnecessary.  There was a time, and again I may be wrong, when everyone was basically kind.  Maybe it is just how I want to remember things.  Maybe it is just how I hope it will someday be once again.

Behind the music

Todd Rundgren has always been one of my favorite musicians. The moment I hear the first notes of Hello It's Me, I get a lump in my throat. I remember that Rundgren once said "Music is the way I understand how to communicate now, the way that I've learned how to communicate . . . but it will eventually have to go beyond that. You see, I've realized that music is not what keeps people involved - it's the attitude behind the music."

Einstein's truth

One of humanity's greatest minds, Albert Einstein, once said "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." You don't have to be an Einstein to know that's the truth!

My Goal

It's my goal every single day to be a kinder, nicer person, and to never be the one who broke someone's heart, but to instead be the one who helped to mend it.  I will keep working on this goal day after day and try to improve.

Saturday

It is Saturday the 22nd day of June and it is a day to be kind to one another.  Isn't that true every single day?  Of course it is!  I just wanted to remind us all.  Yes, we should always be kind.

blood

We don't make blood in labs.  When someone in a car accident needs blood, it comes from our donations.  If a cancer patient or a woman in childbirth needs blood, it comes from us.  One of the kindest things a person can do is to donate blood.  I have said this for years, and it is true.  Your blood donations truly save lives.  Think about becoming a blood donor.

Life is too short

Life is just too short, too unpredictable and too complicated. Be happy no matter what.  A smile sometimes is all you need.

Kind Willie

You have probably heard already that a great athlete passed away yesterday, the incredible San Francisco Giants Legend Willie Mays. Besides his skill in baseball, I keep hearing folks talk about how warm and generous and kind he was. Nice. That is the way a person should be remembered. May we all be that kind!

kind words

Over the weekend I received the novel that a dear friend wrote and so I quickly sent him a message of thanks. He is such a loving and generous person, so I wasn't surprised that he responded to me for thanking him. He also said "your 'kindness blog' is lovely!"  I have no idea how many people actually read these words every day, but his kind words are certainly encouraging, and I am grateful.

Not that long ago

Not that long ago I mentioned hearing of someone's death.  We for some reason had stopped keeping in touch.  I regret that.  There were so many opportunities to say what I felt about this person, but not anymore.  Don't wait.  Tell people who you feel about them now.  Show your love and you concern for those people in your life while you still have a chance.

Good

How much good do we see each day? 

What can we do to add to the good? 

Add good. Be kind.

to laugh

Peanuts cartoon creator Charles Schulz, was a very inspiring man. One of the things I remember he said was "If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." Indeed. Thank you Mr Schulz.

enjoy life

I've said this many times and it is so important. We should all make the most of every day. Enjoy life. Do what we can to makes the world better and help our neighbors to also make the most of every day.

equally

Voltaire said it. “All the citizens of a state cannot be equally powerful, but they may be equally free.”

cures

A kind word, a good laugh, and a long restful sleep are three of the best cures for anything.

Pie

Can you bake a cherry pie?  How about an apple one?  How about baking one for someone else - or maybe some bread or cake?  One of the kindest things you can do is to give a nice freshly baked item to someone.  Yum!

Be kind to animals

Being kind to our neighbors is important of course, but it is also so very important to be kind to animals.  We hear about animal cruelty a lot, which I find disgusting, and I'd love to see a campaign for humans to remember they share this planet with over 2.16 million animal species.  Let us be kind to them!

It's Sunday

It's Sunday and the beginning of another week.  That might not seem like a big deal, but I am grateful for each and every day of my life and am especially grateful for every opportunity to be kind to others.  So, let's get going!  Where will you be showing kindness today?

Is there anything better than love

Ask yourself this: What is better than love? Seriously. Can you come up with an answer? Is there anything better than love? I don't think so. We can always use more of it, as a matter of fact. There is nothing better than love! No sirree!  Nothing at all is better than love.

turn the page

Life is like a book.  If you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds.

what this is all about

Just in case you stumbled upon this blog for the very first time, let me tell you what this is all about. It's pretty simple. This is about kindness. I want to be a kinder person and I want this to be a kinder world. Please help!

Wisdom of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was so very wise. She said, “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

Hold the 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?  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.  Such an easy kind act!

Thank you Mister Rogers

Fred Rogers was always such a comfort and was so encouraging. He told us "Being kind means responding to the needs of others—and people can be kind, no matter how old or young we are."  Thank you Mister Rogers!

Melissa said

“Love is never wrong.” 

       -Melissa Etheridge

the rainbow of humanity

As LGBTQ+ Pride Month begins, I remember these words from rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker: "What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us. It’s all the colors. It represents all the genders. It represents all the races. It’s the rainbow of humanity."