How kind was 2025

How kind was 2025?  Could we have done better?  Tomorrow begins a brand new year and I am sure we can continue to spread kindness!  Make someone happy

think about you

Everyone carrying a heavy heart in silence should know the importance of being kind to yourself. Yes, being kind to others is always important, but first think about you and you're going to be okay.

simple and unassuming

Albert Einstein was smart. We all know that. Look though at some of the remarkable things he said. This, for example: "I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind."

Words from Robert F Kennedy

I have always liked these words spoken by Robert Francis Kennedy: "Some men see things as they are and ask why.  I dream of things that never were and ask why not." 

what it's all about

Being kind to yourself and to others.
Kindness. That's what it's all about.
I really don't need to say any more.

Knowing what to say and when

A couple of weeks ago, a floral delivery driver I know, walked up to a house with a large, beautiful flowering plant. Assuming it to be a holiday gift, he said to the woman opening the door, "Boy are you a lucky lady." The woman burst into tears. The driver later found out that the plant was a sympathy gift. The woman had just lost her husband. He was trying to be kind by cheerfully greeting her, but not knowing all the facts, he added to her sorrow. I've been thinking about this and realized that we sometimes need to know what to say, and when to say it.

Merry Christmas!

 Happiness and joy to every one of you.  Be kind to everyone!

Albert Einstein said

Albert Einstein was so correct when he said, “The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty and truth.”

From Confucius

A saying attributed to Confucius: "Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude." Indeed.

all the good you can

John Wesley said "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."  Such good advice!

happy life

You do not find the happy life.  You make it.

Thinking of Mom

She is no longer with us, but she left a mark - a very good mark.  Mom was loved by just about everyone she met.  Her kindness I'm sure had a lot to do with that.  She was always thinking of others, especially me and my sister.  I miss her a lot and think of her often, especially today, her birthday.

From Charlotte's Web

In E.B. White's classic "Charlotte's Web," there is this wonderful passage:
    “Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'
    'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

gifts

Tell people what you need.  You'll either get it or realize they can't give it to you.  Both are gifts.

protect your peace

Not every person who enters your life deserves access to your peace. Some people carry anger, negativity, or chaos within them, and sometimes they try to pull others into that same emotional storm. Be kind to yourself. Remember that you are not responsible for absorbing someone else’s negativity. One of the most powerful things you can learn in life is how to protect your peace.

Robert Louis Stevenson said

Robert Louis Stevenson said "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."

Specialist

These days there seems to be an expert for just about everything and folks seem more often to focus their energies in to one or two areas becoming specialists in the field.  Is there anyone who specializes in kindness?  What a wonderful specialty that would be!

daydreaming

Sometimes I daydream about all of the ways I want to make someone happy.  Does that seem odd?  We need more joy and happiness in our world, and I want to make that happen.  I know many of you are with me in this endeavor.  The daydreaming might be good, but I need to do more.  Let's all make it happen!

just out of curiosity

Happy Saturday everyone!  Just out of curiosity I was wondering if you are a regular reader or if today perhaps is your first time reading what I have to say here.  I'd love your comments.  Do feel free to make any suggestions too.  Kindness is important and I am not the expert.  I'm sure we all have ideas about how to make the world a kinder place.

a nice hot beverage

It is still cold outside. In some places it can be extremely cold.  Bundle up and share warm wishes with others. A very kind gesture might be to give folks hot beverages - cider is particularly popular at this time of year.  Hot chocolate is good too!

Charity begins at home

So many donation requests this time of year - dozens and dozens of charities asking for money.  It might be a pain to sort through all those letters and emails, but there are indeed many organizations worth giving too and this annual push get them a lot of money.  Of course charity begins at home, so our first responsibility is for the needs of our own family and friends and co-workers.  Not all of us can give with money (sometimes it just isn't there), but we can all show extra kindness and we all can show love and concern.

Appreciation

Appreciation blooms in our heart, in our being, in the same lives with which we have had so many justified complaints and quibbles.  Appreciation is such a wondrous sense of good.

random acts

I love thinking of those random acts of kindness that really make a difference. Here are some more. Buy books for a day care center or school or donate some from your own library. Donate blood. Volunteer at an organization that needs help. Go through your closets and find several nice items and then donate them to a shelter. Give toys to the children at a shelter. There are so many other ideas!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Fifty-four years ago, Karen Carpenter was singing "What I've got they used to call the blues. Nothin' is really wrong, Feelin' like I don't belong." Ever had a day like that yourself? That popular song Rainy Days and Mondays could easily describe today, except for one thing: Nothing needs to get us down. Nothing. It's raining where I live, and it is indeed Monday, but I refuse to be depressed about anything. There are bright corners everywhere. Just look for them.

Two men in California

The whole purpose of this blog is to encourage kindness and to help me focus more and hopefully become a kinder person myself. Some days it seems like kind people are fewer in number than ever before, but then I am encouraged by two men in California. Their kindness knows no limits. They are amazing examples of what we all should be. Their work brings them in contact with many people and so many benefit from their positive outlook and the many nice things they do. Our world is indeed a better place because of these two men in California.

The sleeping giant

With all the problems in the world, the past few days have also been quite wonderful.  As we hear more and more about hate groups, I'm also seeing people stand up and show great energy and determination in fighting hatred.  There are times when you think that nobody cares, but this week it is as if a sleeping giant has just woken up.  I'm seeing so many rise up with love and kindness and take a stand against hate.  Yes, it's about time, but it's so wonderful!

Do you know what today is?

Let's celebrate! Do you know what today is? It has been a year of these morning messages about kindness. One whole year! I wonder how many read this regularly. I wonder. Hopefully some of these thoughts have been helpful. Hopefully I have gotten kinder, oh and you too!

Happy

Are you a happy person? Some people that you don't expect to be happy actually are happy.  The happiest people don't have the best of everything; they make the best of everything. Think about it.

simple

Be Kind.  It doesn't have to be a long and detailed message here.  The purpose of this blog is so very simple, and so is the message.

special ways

Here are a few special ways to spread kindness.  Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings.  Visit or call a homebound person.  Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line. Volunteer at an organization that needs help.  Transport someone who can’t drive.  Donate blood.  Have a clean-up party in the park. Volunteer to read to kids in the library.

Happy December everybody

So many observances this month including World AIDS Day (today), Advent, Saint Nicholas' Day, Saint Lucia's Day, Hanukkah, Longest Night:, Festivus, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Saint Stephen's Day, Holy Innocents' Day, Saint Sylvester's Day, Watch Night, and New Year's Eve.   Happy December everybody!