Stay

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and I want to remind everyone again that life is precious.  Stay.  The world is better with you.  

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, 

free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, 

and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

988

Missing Mister Rogers

I sure am missing Mister (Fred) Rogers.  He was such a kind man and always pointed us in the right direction.  He once said "As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has, or ever will have-something inside that is unique to all time."

playing

We don't stop playing because we grow old.
Nope.  We grow old because we stop playing.

Sunshine

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.  Bring some sunshine.

simple message

 The purpose of this blog, the message of this blog, is very, very simple.  BE KIND!

sharing is caring

Each morning, I write here in this place about kindness.  I'm not an expert, just one voice.  I invite you to join with me though.  Share this daily blog with your friends and share your thoughts about kindness in the comments.  Sharing is caring!

kindness to those who have passed

When I was young, I was taught to never speak ill of the dead.  Nowadays it seems to happen all the time.  I'm not suggesting we lie.  What I will suggest is that if we live a life of kindness, nobody will have a bad word to say about us.  For those who have already passed, is it necessary to speak of their faults?  Regardless of the way they lived, can we not remember them with love?

Humility

Here are some very wise words from C. S. Lewis:  "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less."

like a wildfire

The wonderful Whoopi Goldberg once said "When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And it'll become like a wildfire."

Treat people with kindness

Treat people with kindness. Behind every face there is a story that could use a little more love. You can be the supplier.

universal language

Kindness is the universal language that blind people can see and the deaf can hear.  We can all relate to kindness!

wise words from Jesse Jackson

Listen to these words from the Reverend Jesse Jackson who said, "Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up."

be my friend

Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.

Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. 

Walk beside me.  Just be my friend.

miracles

Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.

Better, so much better

The world is so much better when people are kind to each other.  Our day is so much better when we are kind to others and they are kind to us.  Everything is so much better with kindness.

Aesop's quotes

I love most of Aesop's fables, but I also like a lot of his quotes, like this one.  "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." 

Daily Kindness

No, I am not an expert in kindness.  I keep reminding you of that because folks keep saying that I am.  I'm not perfect by any means and I never will be, but I want to be a kinder person.  Each day I try to do a better job.  By writing here every morning about kindness, I'm hopefully not just encouraging you, but also encouraging me and causing me to be more aware of my own actions.  

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Friggatriskaidekaphobia, fear of Friday the 13th. Many reasons for this, but especially in numerology where twelve is considered the number of completeness (12 tribes of Israel, the 12 Apostles, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 days of Christmas, 12 hours of the clock, etc). The number thirteen is then considered a transgression, going beyond completeness. This day though doesn't have to be unlucky.  Be kind to yourself. Don't add unnecessary worry. Be kind to others too. I think we can make this a very lucky day - certainly a very kind one!

equality and opportunity for all

I cannot understand at all how destroying families through deportation benefits our society in any way. Whatever happened to basic human kindness? Whatever happened to the fundamental American promise of equality and opportunity for all?  How can we think of some people as "illegal"?

He takes after his father

When someone says "He takes after his father (or mother)," I always think of that in a kind way, unless of course his father was a multiple ax-murderer.

Overflowing mind

Some days when I wake up my mind takes a little longer than my body.  Perhaps my brain is still processing those overnight dreams.  Most days though I find my mind is overflowing with thoughts and ideas.  What will I write about kindness here in this space?  What will I put in another blog I write?  I'm so grateful for good health and the ability to think.  I'm so grateful for all the kindness in the world that inspires me to want more!

neuroscience

Being kind to other people actually benefits the brain of the giver more than that of the receiver.  Leave it to neuroscience to help make us more kind!

There can never be too much

Kindness is such a good thing, there can never be too much.  More and more kind acts, and we can still enjoy more of them.  Kindness brings about happiness.  Let's never stop!

good advice

Accept what is,
  let go of what was,
    have faith in what will be.

forgotten thoughts

When I woke up this morning, I had a wonderful idea of what to write here.  I usually have some thoughts, but this was very specific and involved a song.  Unfortunately, that's all I remember!  Did you ever forget something so completely in such a short period of time?  Oh well!  Perhaps I will remember and can write about it another day.  In the meantime we can all certainly remember to be kind!

CARE

Students and teachers at Georgia’s Apalachee High School, where a teenager carried out a deadly mass shooting yesterday, are on everyone's mind this morning. That certainly is the kind thing. In my opinion though tragedies like this should never occur. We need to all care more about our kids and their educators. School shootings can be prevented. First though we all have to CARE.

Helping me

I began this daily blog to help bring more kindness to the world.  I have absolutely no idea if there has been any success.  I must say though that this is helping me.  I've said it before here, but it can be repeated.  By thinking each morning about kindness in the world, I think I am becoming kinder, and that certainly must be a good thing!

begin with a positive thought

A good beginning is always a great idea. Begin your day with a positive thought. No matter how tough yesterday was, a fresh opportunity to make it better awaits you today. Positivity is a powerful thing. Be kind to yourself!

a few random acts of kindness

Here are some things we can all do to show kindness toward others: 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 friends on social media. twitter 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)!

Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and I'm going to say something about this several times. While suicide prevention must be addressed year-round, the month of September especially reminds us that we can make an impact and help those in crisis and their loved ones.  Every life is important.

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

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