School daze

Remember when school didn't begin each year until early September?  In most places it was the day after Labor Day.  Now it begins much earlier and where I live, it is year round.  (There is a brief break each June).  Are we being kind to our kids or are we putting them into a daze?

Being kind comes in many forms

Tell your boss that you think he/she does a good job. Call or visit a homebound person. Pay a compliment at least once a day. Transport someone who can’t drive. Make telephone calls in support of equality urging others to put aside hate. Say something nice to everyone you meet today. Send a treat to a school or day-care center. Give public testimony about an important civic matter.  Being kind comes in so many forms!

Such an outpouring

Kindness comes in so many colors and in the past few days I have seen more that usual, with so much directed toward me.  There has been such an outpouring of love and caring that I am truly overwhelmed.  I received birthday greetings from a few folks I seldom see or hear from, there was a card from the management company that owns the property where I live, relatives and friends sent well-wishes, and I even had some kind thoughts from a waiter when he found out it was my birthday.  Wonderful it was and I am so grateful.  It is my wish that everyone be able to experience that kind of love and kindness!

C E L E B R A T E

It's my birthday, but as much as I love a good party, I have never really liked to focus on myself, not even for a day.  I write a blog called "It's NOT about me," focusing on those heroes who make a difference in the world.  Even today isn't really about me.  My mom and dad were the ones who made it all happen.  Every year as I celebrate, I think first of my parents, especially Mom, and all they gave me.  They were such kind and loving people.  That is something to celebrate!

Wisdom from a poster

I just saw this on a poster -
FIVE INGREDIENTS FOR HAPPINESS:  Be grateful,  Be helpful,  Be Understanding,  Be kind,  Be Yourself.

the very best I can

Our nation's sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, is said to be our most inspiring. I have read so many of his speeches and writings and one of the things he said that always sticks with me is "I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end."

There are always more ideas

Many times I have listed various acts of kindness here, and there are always more ideas.  Pretty cool huh?  Something we will never run out of! Here's some more ideas: 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. Say nice things randomly to social media 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. Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings. Buy a stranger a free pizza. What ideas can you add?

From the mind of Andy Rooney

I used to love hearing Andy Rooney's observations on life. This is one of my favorites: “For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his/her happiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.”

kindness on the bus

Kindness is when the bus driver waits at the stop she sees you running toward, even though it may delay her by a few seconds.  Kindness is when strangers on the bus keep you from falling down because you have your hands full with a water bottle, a book, and your umbrella.   Kindness is when the bus driver tells you to please hold on.  I ride the bus nearly day can see many examples of kindness.

Confidence

Confidence is not walking into a room with your nose in the air and thinking you are better than everyone else. It’s walking into a room and not having to compare yourself to anyone else in the first place.

Remembering Judge Caprio

We received the sad news yesterday that Municipal Court judge Frank Caprio had passed away following a courageous fight against cancer.  In his memory, I'd like to share these words of his:  "Each sunrise is life’s way of giving us a brand-new page to write on. What you choose to fill it with, kindness, gratitude, love, and hope, is entirely up to you.  No matter what challenges yesterday held, today is a fresh chance to do good, to make someone smile, and to remind the world that compassion still matters.  Step into this day with courage, live it with kindness, and end it with gratitude."  Rest in peace Judge Caprio.

Ten years from now

Ten years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you did not do than by the ones you did do.  Think about it.

Kindness toward shut-ins

Do you know anyone who is confined indoors, either as a result of physical or mental disability, or simply because they have no transportation? Days can become rather boring for some of these folks and an occasion note in the mail or call on the phone might really brighten things for them! Such a simple act is also a very kind thing.

because you exist

Someone out there feels better today because you exist.  Remember that.  Yes, it really is true.  There are probably even several someones.

strangers

I'm amazed at how sometimes strangers or people you just met will reach out to you with concern about your well-being.  Sometimes strangers are there before family or friends!  While it is nice to see people reaching out, I hope it spreads and involves those closest to us as well!

Passion

Passion is the secret ingredient to an amazing life. Be passionate about something. Be passionate about everything, if you can.

The Mace Cake

Years ago, a woman used to bring this most delicious mace cake to my church.  I don't remember how popular it was with others, but whenever I saw it, I just had to have a slice!  Years later, at another church in another city, I mentioned this to a lady who was planning coffee hour refreshments.  She had never heard of a mace cake, but she very kindly looked it up and presented one for church the next Sunday.  It was delicious!  That was her first mace cake, but not her last.  She didn't have to make one at all, but she did.  That's kindness.

Which is better

When someone does a kind thing for you, it feels really good, huh?  But wait!  It also feel good to be the one doing the kind deed.  Imagine that  Which is better?  We could begin a contest and keep giving and receiving over and over and test out which one becomes our favorite.

Everyone enjoys a little kindness

Start each day with kindness (you can always find a dose of it here), and spread it around too.  Everyone enjoys a little kindness!

optimism

Everyone has to start out somewhere. This start always begins with optimism. Negative attitude is not going to take you anywhere.

good in others

Life becomes easier and more beautiful 

   when we can see the good in other people.

three things

The great novelist Henry James, once said: "Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; the third is to be kind." Seems like we just might be on to something!

your voice for honesty and truth and compassion

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed.  If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." -William Faulkner

I shall not pass this way again

One of my favorite quotes about kindness is from William Penn, even though it might sound a lot like something sung by Jim Seals and Dash Crofts. Penn said "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

no such thing as too kind

When we are kind to others, we always strive to become better than we are. There is no such thing as too kind. We just get better and better and when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

positive circle

They say what goes around, comes around, so let us all keep our circle positive. Let's think good thoughts, be kind to each other, speaking good words, and doing good deeds.

all alone

Nobody should ever have to be alone.  Now some folks choose this, and that is their decision, but most people like a little human contact.  Help them.  Reach out!  A phone call or a card or a text can mean a lot to someone who lives by themself.  Paying them a visit could be nice too.

Albert Schweitzer words

Albert Schweitzer was a brilliant man. These are his words: "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."

people who inspire you

Focus more on the people who inspire you rather than annoy you.  You’ll get much further in life.

Winning

Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before. Winning means surpassing yourself and turning your dreams into reality.

knowing in your heart

If you can go to sleep at night knowing in your heart that you made someone’s day just a little bit better, you know that you have had a good day.