the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
A simple act of kindness creates an endless ripple effect.
It really is that easy. It is the little things that mean the most. At least to me. The thought behind the little acts of kindness go so far. When I was in the hospital for so long, you come to appreciate the little things. I was in the same room for weeks on end, so we got to know the nurses and the staff on that unit. They could have gone about their shifts, coming and going, with no thought to us. They didn't. They were always going the extra mile, causing an endless ripple effect. They had a little refrigerator with all the things a sick person would want. Ice chips, Jell-o, and Sprite. They showed my husband where that fridge was and let him help himself to whatever I needed. It may not seem like much at all and it may even go un-noticed to some patients, but for me, for us, it meant so much. That is kindness.
Kindness has to begin with empathy. The ability to understand and share feelings with others. The nurses on that unit did just that with my family. They were able to empathize with what we were going through and how I was feeling, to invoke kindness. In addition to empathy, I believe kindness has a gentle side, there is compassion in kindness. Gentle in the words you use, in the actions you do, in the relationships you share. The simple nature of being gentle puts others at ease. I will always remember those nurses sharing the stocked fridge. These were the same nurses who would run cold water on a washcloth for my forehead when I was so sick. That is kindness.
How hard is it to put yourself in someone else's shoes? Empathize with what they are experiencing and spread some kindness with compassion. Y'all - each one of us could use a little kindness right about now. A gentle compassion. Empathy.
Write about your favorite memory.
Write about something good that happened today.
When I do something nice for someone else, I feel…
How can you motivate others to be kind?
List the 5 acts of kindness you are going to do today.
keep pushing through