Last chance for February

The shortest month is coming to a close.  Have you been as kind to others as you would like?  There still is time of course.  We have this whole day ahead of us, and although this is our last chance for February, we hopefully will keep on being kind in March!

some random acts of kindness

This morning, I want to share a few ideas of random acts of kindness. Volunteer at your local hospital.  Buy a stranger a free pizza. Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading their car. Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game. Call an estranged family member. Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings. Spend some time serving food at a meal program for the needy.

at the end of the day

At the end of every day write down in a diary, or on your calendar the best thing that happened to you that day. It's a wonderful exercise.

nothing better than love

Ask yourself this: What is better than love?  Seriously.  Money?  Jewlery?  Champagne?  Can you come up with an answer?  I think there is nothing better than love!  Let us love each other.

be proud

Don't be ashamed of how someone else sees you. Be proud of who you are. Each day add things to make you even more proud!

Give peace a chance

Today is World Peace and Understanding Day, emphasizing the significance of peace for human survival.  I talk about kindness here and a peaceful world is about the kindest thing we can have.  No fighting.  No violence.  Peaceful existence for us all.

lift them up

Inspire someone who is having a hard time, not by lowering yourself to their sadness, but by lifting them up through your joy!

First thing in the morning

I may have tons of time at certain points during the day, but first thing in the morning I am pretty busy.  These days I am on zoom for about half an hour.  I write a short message here.  I check email, messages, and enjoy some breakfast.  I write a second blog (about making a difference in the world).  I am back on zoom once more.  All this before 9:30!  If you are wanting to hear from me, you will, but I just might take a few moments to get to it.  Be kind.

That breakfast surprise

Two friends that I seldom see, asked if I might want to meet them for coffee yesterday morning.  Wonderful!  I love chatting with friends over a nice hot cup of joe.  We all arrived at just about the same time, and planning on just getting a tall dark roast drip coffee, I waited behind them as they ordered.  One said "Have you ever had the breakfast bagels here?  The sausage ones are especially good."  Good idea!  "I think I'll get one with my coffee," I replied.  They stepped away from the cash register and I stepped up, ordering my drink and food.  "Oh they already ordered (and paid) for you," the cashier said.  Nice conversation followed, as I had anticipated, but they having paid for me was a kind a lovely surprise.

Focus on the positives

Focus on the positives and above all, be kind.

from Amelia Earhart

I find these words from Amelia Earhart to be very inspiring: "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees."

behind every face

Treat people with kindness because behind every face is a story that could use a little more love.  I know I could always use a little more!

credit

One word that gets used way to much is a simple one letter word, I.  I did this and I did that.  Truly kind people don't need to be the center of attention.  

A tongue has no bones

We should all be careful with our words.  A tongue has no bones, yet it is strong enough to break a heart. Let's all think about what we say.

candy, flowers, and cards

Today is that day.  Candy, flowers, and cards!  Oh my!  What will you do this Valentine's Day?  As much as I love doing things for others, I prefer doing it all the time and for no particular reason.  Oh course if a special occasion makes folks a little kinder, so much the better!

I Found A Quilted Heart!

An incredible act of kindness - I Found a Quilted Heart, an just ahead of Valentine's Day! The heart I found is part of a movement of sorts, and what a wonderful idea. The hearts are made out of fabric, cut out into a heart shape, with a layer of batting between the two layers. While mine is quite lovely, I have enjoyed looking at pictures of others. They have a website if you want to learn more. https://www.ifoundaquiltedheart.com/

Is kindness something we learn?

Did someone teach you to be kind? Did you observe your grandmother or your mom, or perhaps a teacher and learn from seeing them, or did you become a kind and thoughtful person all on your own? I wonder, just how much is nature and how much is nurture?

happiness

Happiness is a choice, not a result.  Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy.  No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy.  Your happiness will not come to you.  It can only come from you.  Make yourself happy and help others discover this too.

Do all the good you can

Do all the good you can in your lifetime, and make as little fuss about it as possible.

kindness seems to have dried up

These days, kindness toward others seems to have dried up, and that's sad. Kindness is in short supply at a time we need it most — a time when large swaths of American society have turned their backs on others and cruelty seems to be a way of life for many. Perhaps it was never as kind as I think it was, but it certainly can become more kind than it is!

it makes my heart sing

Every now and then I hear or see such wonderful things, that it makes my heart sing! Keep on spreading that kindness!  Make my heart keep on singing!

Emerson inspirations

Ralph Waldo Emerson: "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." Emerson also said "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." I find his words so inspiring; I have quoted them here before.

way of life

For some people, random acts of kindness are a way of life. They do little things to brighten others days without ever asking for any acknowledgment at all.  Do you know anyone like that.  We can all try to me that way!  

Sharing her buns

First thing at work yesterday morning, a woman who works in another area, poked her head in and asked me and the woman working with me if we would like cinnamon buns.  Oh my!  Yes we would and they were so delicious!

So rewarding

You know I agree with the young singer Mary Lambert when she said "Treat others as you wish to be treated. Don't just be nice, but be kind to other people. That can be so rewarding."  Rewarding indeed!

ideas are endless

More kindness ideas:  Buy extra at the grocery store and donate it to a food pantry,  Buy flowers for someone (postal worker, grocery store clerk, bus driver, etc.).  Bring coffee to a co-worker.  Help someone change a flat tire.  Post anonymous sticky notes with validating or uplifting messages around for people to find.  Compliment a work colleague on their work.  Send an encouraging text to someone.  Let a car into the traffic ahead of you. 

Groundhog Day

Will Punxsutawney Phil be kind to us this morning?  It would be nice to see winter come to an early end.  I don't have an answer regarding the groundhog of course, but I know that all of us can certainly be kind to each other!

Special month

You might think that February has less kindness than the other months, simply because it is the shortest.  Nope.  This is a special month.  This is the month in which we focus on love at Valentine's Day.  It is also American Heart Month during which we become more aware of heart health.  What can be better for a healthy heart but kindness?