ONE KIND ACT.COM

Kindness

In the quest to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. Though it is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, as well as strangers. The touching, selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional, unrestricted form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people’s hearts.

The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person’s entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet—even those who make you feel like frowning—can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed said act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.

Weaving the thread of kindness into your everyday life can be as easy as choosing to offer a hearty “Good morning” and “Good night” to your coworkers or neighbors, a stranger on the street, or the grocery store clerk. When you commit a kind act, you are momentarily disconnected from your ego and bonded with the individual who has benefited from your kindness. Being fully present in each moment of your life facilitates kindness as it increases your awareness of the people around you. You’ll discover that each act of kindness you engage in makes the world, in some small way, a better place.

Reprinted with permission from DailyOM.com – Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Register for free at www.dailyom.com © 2004-2010 DailyOM -All Rights Reserved.

“Right now is the time to be kind. You cannot do a kindness to soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

by laurenruns

I am the mother of three little ones all under the age of five. One of my children has Celiac Disease, I have Multiple Sclerosis, and other members of our family have various food intolerances. None of these titles or limitations has ever stopped us from finding a balance and being creative in our thoughts towards happiness. We help out bodies to be their strongest, and happiest, through the foods we eat. This means getting creative in the kitchen to make all bellies happy but I have to be especially creative because our food budget is very stretched.

My hubby took a brave journey and switched careers about five years back and went to medical school. He graduated this past spring and when he finished the finances, or lack there of, really began to be felt. We have kept on smiling because we know in the end it will all be worth it but that doesn’t change the fact that when you run out of money for food, you run out of money and nothing can change that. The other day at our local co-op I went to purchase a few items (dried figs, bananas,apples…) to help sustain us for the rest of the week. I had only a little bit of money leftover from the remainder of the week’s food budget and knew I had to really choose what I NEEDED. Well, as usual, I didn’t have enough money to purchase all the things I had placed on the counter. I told the cashier which items I would purchase and which ones I needed to put back.

The woman behind us smiled and talked with my kids and after I paid told me she wanted to buy the head of garlic I had chosen not to buy. This touched me so greatly. I was going to use it for three dinners and to give a few cloves to one of our very sick dogs. I thanked her several times and walked outside, tears welling. That act of kindness might have been little but it helped me and my family stay healthy for yet another week. She probably has no idea what she did but it goes to show that any little thing we do can have a very BIG impact.

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This story has been reprinted from www.helpothers.org. Visit www.helpothers.org for many great stories of kindness.