Well besides being a PEACEFUL WARRIOR [humble, empowering, trusting & caring] I would say …Be grateful, acknowledge it & continue the cycle “spread the energy” be kind to another. My friend would text me randomly “OMG I need a HUGE favor from you!!!” I would message back frantically assuming the worst..and he would respond 5-10mins later…” Please make sure to have …A GREAT DAY”. Try it out 🙂
If a person to whom I have shown a kindness offers to pay me back someday, I can encourage him or her instead to seek to help the next needy person he or she meets.
Practice looking someone in the eye – really taking the moment to see them, not
just people we know but each person we come in contact with in our day. Smile!
In so many ways, as long as I do it “cheerfully” and without expectation for return or payment. Biblical wisdom comes to mind here. “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.”
I sat looking up at a tree canopy today, and wondered how it would answer this question. It is very much rooted and connected with a small village of trees in it’s midst. One tree offers a seemingly endless, hopeful scattering of pine cones. Others have early signs of red stems and leaves, as they begin their fall progression.
For the most part each tree, in it’s own way, seems alive, well, living today to the fullest, and quietly supporting it’s neighbours. Perhaps that is enough, trusting that today well lived is a more than generous offering to the future ..
Look outside myself and offer a kindness to another – even a smile can encourage, or taking in our elderly neighbors garbage cans, volunteering where help is needed, or a thousand other options that greet me each day. I only need to act.
And the beauty of paying kindness forward – for me it is gratifying, it always “feels” good:)
When I focus on being kind to myself, I am better able to be kind to those around me. It’s rather like the airline warning about the oxygen masks – put your own on first so you are able to help others. Kindness begets kindness both in ourselves and in our interactions with others.
Kindness brings gratitude to my heart, and a grateful heart is more likely to act with kindness. The Dalai Lama says, “my religion is kindness,” and we can practice kindness all the time, but I fall short there 🙁
Sometimes, Holly, too often not, but thank you 🙏 😊 🤩 😍. A person I really like and admire made a couple annoying and troublesome mistakes this summer, and I thanked her for all her hard work after pointing out her mistakes. Now if I can only learn to do that with the Annoying People who make annoying mistakes…
You thank them for their mistakes, but can’t be forgiving of your own mistakes? We are ALL imperfect, Mica. Be kind and loving to yourself, too, and all will be well. ❤
Lately I have to be kind to some people I can’t stand. It means at least smiling when I see them, and not trying to force my opinion when I strongly disagree with them.
And for me, I pay the kindness forward when I softly accept my vulnerability and make room for comfort, when I don’t feel guilty for choosing the people I like to be with.
If I practice these attitudes, I am sure that my soul will be full of grace and that, at least, I will not bore others.
Dear Anna, For 10 yrs I’ve lived next door to a woman of the opposite political persuasion. I finally started feeling really close to her in the last year, when it turned out that we’re both people for whom “One [wo]man’s trash is another one’s treasure” – we’re both ‘treasure’ people. It feels so wonderful to feel happy around her – finally.
By smiling, listening and giving a compliment to someone. By offering help To someone who appears to have difficulties. By being kind to me that way I can spread it around to others
By planting trees, by speaking to, listening to, and playing with children (not just my own), by helping out neighbors with shoveling, mowing, watching their home when they are away, help when they are ill, by showing community in many little ways (posting items on our local free page, letting people go before me in line, volunteering for community projects, taking boxes of vegetables to those struggling), by being an extra set of hands when needed, by being a friend someone can call when they are feeling down, by being sensitive to the needs of others, and by imagining a beautiful world beyond my lifetime.
So true, Holly, yesterday I climbed on a tree at the park with my daughter. They have put lovely log steps that make this very easy. Then I laid with my belly and face on a branch. A little child and I greeted each other, he was with his mom/carer on the ground. All while my daughter happily read a book. I was in a low mood and I think this was healing.
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IN WHAT WAYS CAN I PAY KINDNESS FORWARD?
Well besides being a PEACEFUL WARRIOR [humble, empowering, trusting & caring] I would say …Be grateful, acknowledge it & continue the cycle “spread the energy” be kind to another. My friend would text me randomly “OMG I need a HUGE favor from you!!!” I would message back frantically assuming the worst..and he would respond 5-10mins later…” Please make sure to have …A GREAT DAY”. Try it out 🙂
If a person to whom I have shown a kindness offers to pay me back someday, I can encourage him or her instead to seek to help the next needy person he or she meets.
Practice looking someone in the eye – really taking the moment to see them, not
just people we know but each person we come in contact with in our day. Smile!
. . . by being present
to what is needed in the world . . .
By simply living from kindness in this very moment.
In so many ways, as long as I do it “cheerfully” and without expectation for return or payment. Biblical wisdom comes to mind here. “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.”
Thank you for this reminder
I sat looking up at a tree canopy today, and wondered how it would answer this question. It is very much rooted and connected with a small village of trees in it’s midst. One tree offers a seemingly endless, hopeful scattering of pine cones. Others have early signs of red stems and leaves, as they begin their fall progression.
For the most part each tree, in it’s own way, seems alive, well, living today to the fullest, and quietly supporting it’s neighbours. Perhaps that is enough, trusting that today well lived is a more than generous offering to the future ..
Trees are a delightful role model in so many ways.
Thanks Don. I really appreciate your reflection as well. Kindness in each moment. How good is that! Best Friday wishes! Warmly, KC
Look outside myself and offer a kindness to another – even a smile can encourage, or taking in our elderly neighbors garbage cans, volunteering where help is needed, or a thousand other options that greet me each day. I only need to act.
And the beauty of paying kindness forward – for me it is gratifying, it always “feels” good:)
I agree with you, Cathie. Sometimes a smile can make another person’s day so I do that a lot!
When I focus on being kind to myself, I am better able to be kind to those around me. It’s rather like the airline warning about the oxygen masks – put your own on first so you are able to help others. Kindness begets kindness both in ourselves and in our interactions with others.
Thanks Regina. Yes! 🙏🏻
Kindness brings gratitude to my heart, and a grateful heart is more likely to act with kindness. The Dalai Lama says, “my religion is kindness,” and we can practice kindness all the time, but I fall short there 🙁
Don’t we all. Don’t despair.
I think you are very kind!
Sometimes, Holly, too often not, but thank you 🙏 😊 🤩 😍. A person I really like and admire made a couple annoying and troublesome mistakes this summer, and I thanked her for all her hard work after pointing out her mistakes. Now if I can only learn to do that with the Annoying People who make annoying mistakes…
You thank them for their mistakes, but can’t be forgiving of your own mistakes? We are ALL imperfect, Mica. Be kind and loving to yourself, too, and all will be well. ❤
Oh, no, Holly – my problem is with the Annoying Other People whom I don’t admire. Myself, too, I suppose, but that wasn’t my concern there.
Lately I have to be kind to some people I can’t stand. It means at least smiling when I see them, and not trying to force my opinion when I strongly disagree with them.
And for me, I pay the kindness forward when I softly accept my vulnerability and make room for comfort, when I don’t feel guilty for choosing the people I like to be with.
If I practice these attitudes, I am sure that my soul will be full of grace and that, at least, I will not bore others.
Dear Anna, For 10 yrs I’ve lived next door to a woman of the opposite political persuasion. I finally started feeling really close to her in the last year, when it turned out that we’re both people for whom “One [wo]man’s trash is another one’s treasure” – we’re both ‘treasure’ people. It feels so wonderful to feel happy around her – finally.
That is awesome! 😀
…strange,
dear Mica,
what can connect us,
isn’t it? 🙂
Yes, it’s such a relief to greet her happily 🙂
Thank you dear Mica, for sharing your experience. I treasure what you are saying.
By being kind in all I do.
By smiling, listening and giving a compliment to someone. By offering help To someone who appears to have difficulties. By being kind to me that way I can spread it around to others
By planting trees, by speaking to, listening to, and playing with children (not just my own), by helping out neighbors with shoveling, mowing, watching their home when they are away, help when they are ill, by showing community in many little ways (posting items on our local free page, letting people go before me in line, volunteering for community projects, taking boxes of vegetables to those struggling), by being an extra set of hands when needed, by being a friend someone can call when they are feeling down, by being sensitive to the needs of others, and by imagining a beautiful world beyond my lifetime.
So true, Holly, yesterday I climbed on a tree at the park with my daughter. They have put lovely log steps that make this very easy. Then I laid with my belly and face on a branch. A little child and I greeted each other, he was with his mom/carer on the ground. All while my daughter happily read a book. I was in a low mood and I think this was healing.
That is such a beautiful image!!! It puts a warm spot in my heart. Bless that person who thought of putting log-steps to the tree!!!
“A nation is great when old men plant trees, under whose shade they will never rest.” -Turkish proverb
Oh, next time I go there I’ll take a picture of this tree.
Lovely quote, thank you, dear Holly
Spontaneous anonymous acts of kindness hopefully unseen such as while driving
I love this, Carla! I too, practice kindness while driving–it makes me and hopefully them feel good!