Kindness: Let’s Start with the Basics

Today's guest blogger is Elaine from Oakdale

So we’re all talking about the in January 2012, but what does that mean?

By definition, the word Kindness means:

1) The quality of being friendly, generous and considerate,

2) A kind act.

Everyday people do kind things for other people - holding doors, letting others go ahead of us, helping someone in need. For some, it’s so natural that an act of kindness may not stand out to them as much as it does to the receiver of the kindness. For others, it’s not as natural to do an act of kindness for another.

We all have our levels of common courtesies we extend to others, but kindness is the step beyond what you normally do.

It is:

• Being friendly – a smile to the person waiting in line, a hello to the senior sitting alone, a “how’s your day” to the store cashier
• Being generous – with your time, treasures and talent.  Giving someone time by doing something for them.  Being generous with your praise.  Mentoring a young person.
• Being considerate – paying attention to the needs and feelings of those around you, interacting with others thoughtfully and with a gentleness.

We create safe bubbles around us.

We live in a society where we’re surrounded by messages to be skeptical: Don’t approach people you don’t know, be careful of strangers, and by all means, don’t accept unsolicited conversations or actions. Don’t even make eye contact. We create safe bubbles around us to allow us to keep distance as we choose. But these bubbles prevent us from interacting with others and we miss opportunities to connect with others as human beings.

Let’s change that.  Start noticing when someone is kind to you - it happens more than you may be aware. Open your eyes to it and embrace each act of kindness to you as a gift, because it is. Notice how you feel. A warm feeling? Does it help you open your bubble. . . a little bit?  When you’re aware of the kindness around you, you start to see opportunities to give to others.

The Kindness Challenge January 2012 is about creating awareness of giving and receiving kindness - warming the world in 31 days; one act at a time.  So what’s the worst that happens if you reach outside of your bubble and give some kindness to someone else? You may change a life. You may even change a world.