The Red Power Ranger

Sometimes celebrities inspire us in ways we might not expect.  I suppose you don't even have to be a celebrity for that to be true.  We ALL can inspire.  The actor who is the red Power Ranger always inspires me.  He seems like such a nice and kind person.  Shouldn't we all want to be thought of that way?

the perfect peach

As I pulled my garbage and recycling bins out to the curb last night for pickup, my neighbor was standing there holding a beautiful peach in his hand.  It was a beautiful piece of fruit and in fact I told him it looked like the perfect peach.  "Would you like it?"  he asked.  Oh yes!  I'd love it!  What a kind thing for him to do.  By the way, it tasted as good as it looked.

observe the little things

I said this here before "Observe the little things. Watch how folks can bring a smile to others."  Sometimes we take things for granted, but if just concentrate a little on doing and on seeing, I think we will all become kinder. It will be second nature.  Seeing the kind acts of others is very inspiring.

fresh bread

I'm not sure what made me think of this today, but the smell of fresh bread is one of my favorite aromas.  Many years ago my mom had a wonderful neighbor who was always baking bread.  She always made some extra loaves for neighbors and friends.  Once when I was visiting Mom, her neighbor arrived with a loaf fresh out of the oven and Mom quickly grabbed the butter and we enjoyed!  Oh my!  That neighbor was so very kind.

be kind

You might have been expecting some fancy quote or an incredibly moving message, but what I write about here every day is really quite simple.  If I encourage you or help you along the way, so much better.  My goal though is just to spread kindness everywhere and hopefully to make me a kinder person too.  So dear friends, be kind.

Happy Thursday!

Happy Thursday everybody!  I hope you have a truly wonderful day filled with love and kindness and I hope that you help others to have a great day too.

Inspiration from Michelangelo

"Danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." - Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

transplant kindness

I was just reading about a mother sharing some very moving moments with a transplant recipient. The mother had lost her daughter following complications from a congenital brain malformation and the daughter's limbs and organs were donated, with her left hand becoming a transplant for a young woman who lost her hands as a result of sepsis. The donor's mother met the recipient, and it was a heartwarming emotional meeting. Such a great example of kindness!

This is not the source of all kindness

This blog is not the source of all kindness.  Try as I might, I am not the perfect person and I certainly don't have all the answers.  I try though.  We all can do that.  We can all strive to do our best to be kind to everyone.  I want to see a nice high success rate too!  (Sorry to be so late today).

it can be very simple

We don't have to think long and hard.  We don't have to go out of our way or spend a lot of money.  Kindness is a way of life.  It can be very simple, but it is who we are and how we act all the time.  Being kind makes people feel good, including ourselves!

help feed

There are lots of folks out there who go hungry, and nobody should have an empty belly. Consider volunteering to serve at a homeless shelter or other meal program.  Meals-On-Wheels or similar programs are usually in need of help too!

Oh joy!

Perhaps I sound like a little kid on Christmas morning, but there is something magical about seeing another person experiencing joy.  When you know that you helped to bring it about, well that seems to make it even more special.  I love trying to make people happy.  It's probably my favorite thing to do!

all around

In addition to BEING kind, I think we should also take time to observe the kind acts around us.  Let's observe the little things and watch how folks can bring a smile to others.  Sometimes we take things for granted, but if we just concentrate a little on doing and on seeing, I think we will all become kinder. It will be second nature.

Presence

Another celebrity took their own life yesterday.  We hear about the famous people, but not the stranger across town who commits suicide.  It happens every day and it is sad no matter who it is.  The answers are complicated, but one thing I have seen in the past 24 hours is people saying "I am here if you need me.  Please reach out."  The presence of people who care - people who will listen, can make a huge difference.  As I said, the answers can be complicated but a good place to start is the kind and caring folks who reach out.  I'm so grateful there are people like this in the world!

random acts

How about some random acts of kindness this July morning? I think kindness is an everyday thing, but it doesn't hurt to do some special unexpected things from time to time, like surprising the office with homemade cookies, or buying the latte for the stranger behind you at the coffee counter or leaving an extra big tip for your server at lunch.  Any ideas for some random things you might do today?

Monday Monday

So many people dislike Mondays because it is often the return to work after two days off (or for some, the return to school classes), but why should that be a bad thing?  If we work at something we enjoy, every single day can be positive.  Be kind to the calendar and be kind to yourself and of course be kind to others.  Monday can be just as wonderful as any day!

now more than ever

I'm not sure how or why, but there seems to be a lot of frustration these days and so many people are fearful for the future. We can do better.  Kindness helps an awful lot and now more than ever we need to plant these seeds of kindness and then watch them grow.  Do something nice for people today.  It will make them feel good and also make you feel good.

Independence Day

Thinking on this Independence Day of these words from John F. Kennedy: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."  Enjoy that liberty!  Enjoy this holiday.  Be kind.

Big weekend

This is a big weekend! Oh my! Tomorrow is Independence Day, but this one is extra special.  Our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Let us celebrate of course but let us also work to keep the values that we hold dear.  Let us respect and be kind to one another.  Have a great weekend!

Stay healthy

Take care of yourself.  Stay healthy and fit.  When you’re healthy and energetic, it is so much easier to be kind.

what about today

It's Wednesday morning and as my fingers hit the keyboard, I ask myself what I am going to write here today.  Is there a new message?  Can I say something I have never said before?  This really isn't about new ideas or reinventing the wheel.  The message of this blog has always been very simple:  Be kind.  What more can I say.  Kindness matters.