goal

It is 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 mend it.

You can quote me

From time to time I quote people first thing in the morning and this comes from writer and civil rights activist Audre Lorde. "It is not our differences that divide us.  It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."

Kinder world

Every now and then I hear people say they are looking for a kinder world.  That of course would be wonderful indeed, but don't forget that we each have the power to make it so!

The Kindness Guru

The other day, someone called me the Kindness Guru.  I wasn't sure how to take that, and so I asked.  It seems my friend thought I was an expert on kindness.  Oh my!  An expert?  How lovely if we all could be an expert!  I tried to clear things up and would to do so here as well.  I look for our world to be kinder each day.  That requires us all to do our part, and that certainly includes me.  This blog is meant to encourage the readers, and also to encourage me.  I hope that by sharing ideas, we will all be a little more kind.  Your thoughts are always welcome!

start with a positive thought

Always begin your day with a positive thought. No matter how tough yesterday was, a fresh opportunity to make it better awaits you today.

Childsplay

I saw an internet listing for children's books that tell about kindness.  How wonderful!  The earlier we know about being kind, the better.  It isn't a difficult thing - you might say it's childsplay.  Being kind is something we should never outgrow too.

How can we become more kind?

Want to become a more kind person? Perhaps you can begin with some of these ideas. Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby. Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter. Volunteer to be a tutor in a school. Tell your children (or your parents) why you love them. Spend some time serving food at a meal program for the needy. Take an acquaintance to dinner. Sponsor people in fundraising walk-a-thons. Pay a compliment at least once a day. The possibilities are endless.

small, barely detectable generousity

I adore Margaret Cho. Most of us know her as a very funny person, but she also happens to be very wise. I have found encouragement in so many things she has said, like this: "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."

What it takes

I wish I had all the answers.  Just because I write about being kind, doesn't mean I know everything.  It doesn't even mean that I'm actually a kind person myself, although I do try to be.  It would be nice if there was a perfect list of what it takes.  Being kind isn't just one thing though.  I can't simply state what it takes in a simple paragraph, because there are many factors.  Lets begin though with showing love and respect, caring and concern, and some common courtesy.  

Book of Life

The book of life isn't just a single page, it has many different chapters.  If you don't like a chapter, keep turning the pages.  One bad chapter doesn't mean that you have finished the book.

stay positive

Stay positive.  Love yourself for what you are, instead of hating yourself for what you are not.  Do the same thing with others.  Life is so much better without negativity.

From Dr Brothers

Remember Dr Joyce Brothers? She was a columnist, a tv personality and perhaps most significantly, a psychologist. She always had wonderful things to say. Once Dr Brothers said "Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable."

back to you

Sometimes you are kind to me and I am kind back to you, because seeing you happy creates this sense of joy that I really want to see more of.  If we all are kind to each other and it just keeps on going with one person after another and each back to the other, think of how much joy the world will have!

helping hand of a neighbor

The late Vice President Hubert Horatio Humphrey once said "The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor."

The Kind Waitress

The story of the kind waitress is making the rounds and it truly warmed my heart.  Working behind the counter at a breakfast place, the waitress overheard an elderly customer dining alone say something about having difficulty cutting his food.  The man, who was also on oxygen, didn't ask for help, but the waitress saw that he clearly could use a hand, so you took his plate for a moment and cut up his food.  This of course is above and beyond what we might expect from our food servers, and it is extremely kind!

Three important things

I know I have said this before, but since I agree so much, I just have to say it once again!  Novelist Henry James said (to his nephew Billy James) "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind."  Indeed.

Strength From Adversity

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." -Walt Disney

Relax and be kind

Recreation,  travel, and vacationing are all big at this time of year.  School is out for most folks and families tend to do more things together.  Hey, how about a family kindness project?  Sound good?  Even if we are all alone, now is a great time to relax, reduce the stress in our lives, and maybe reduce the stress that others have too.  There is never a bad time to be kind to others, so let's all have fun, enjoy this time of year, relax, and be kind!

Incredible Heat

Record temperatures are being recorded in many places this week.  Be careful.  Stay hydrated.  Don't spend too much time in the sun.  Be careful of children, the elderly, and animals.  They can be more sensitive to the extreme heat.  Be kind to yourself too.  Don't overdo anything in the excessive heat.

The little ones

Yesterday I was at a restaurant and I saw a little boy - he was probably only five or six, run to the door and hold it for an elderly woman.  The woman was very impressed with his kindness and so was I.  When the little ones begin showing courtesy at an early age, you can bet they are going to grow up and be very kind people!

Another glorious day

The sun is shining and the flowers are in bloom, and even though it's only seven o'clock, I just know this is going to be another glorious day!  Of course how our days go depends a lot on us and our actions.  That's where kindness comes in.  Days are always better when we are kind to each other!

Always doing Always kind

I know some people who are always doing things for others.  I know some people who are always kind.  I must say, I am so encouraged by these people!

a good deed in a weary world

In The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare wrote “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”  I find that very inspiring.

Plant a tree

One of the kindest things a person can do, is to plant a tree that will some day give shade to people he has never even known!

The beauty of nature

Yesterday was filled with thunder and lightening and lots of rain, but it made the trees and plants and grass so much more beautiful.  Today when I woke up and saw the sun poking its head above the horizon, I could just tell it was going to be a beautiful day.  Walk with kindness and make it even more beautiful!

Wonderful!

Yesterday was wonderful.  (I try to make every day wonderful, but yesterday was extra special).  Some people are so filled with love and kindness that it shines forth in all that they do, and spending an hour with such a person yesterday was really wonderful.

Each day holds a surprise

Many powerful quotes came from priest and theologian Henri Nouwen.  He told us "Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity."  Some good advice!

Independence Day

Remembering these important words:  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." –The Declaration of Independence, July 4th 1776.

Where there’s a will

Someone once said "Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  Don’t let your challenges hold you back.  Rise above and remember that anything is possible."  We don't know who said that, but it certainly is true.

Better

Which feels better, being kind to someone else, or someone being kind to you?  Some people might think that a difficult question, but actually it's pretty easy.  Of course it is nice to have both, but you just can't beat the warm and wonderful feeling you get when you do something special for someone.  When you see that they appreciated your efforts, there just isn't a better feeling.

Thirty one days

I love it every time a new month begins!  July first doesn't mean that summer is half over - it means another new beginning is here, and it means we have another thirty-one days during which we can share love and kindness with all the other humans on this planet.  Wow!  Such a beautiful thing:  more time!