Racism, religious intolerance and sheer cruelty often seem to be winning in a world gone mad. It seems even more pressing then to make kindness the norm.
Kindness can be really simple. In a world that often seems to be without hope, it is the small (and sometimes very big) acts of kindness that renew our faith in humanity.
Making Kindness The Norm
Today, on World Kindness Day, let’s look at two acts of kindness – one simple and one really big.
A simple act of kindness on a New York train
“Heading home on the Q train yesterday when this young African American guy nods off on the shoulder of a Jewish man. The man doesn’t move a muscle, just lets him stay there. After a minute, I asked the man if he wanted me to wake the kid up, but he shook his head and responded, ‘He must have had a long day, let him sleep. We’ve all been there, right?’
He was still sleeping soundly when I got off the train 20 minutes later.
It was a small gesture, but a kind one. I love New Yorkers!”
What a wonderful reminder that every moment is a chance to do something good for another person. And not only that, but inspire the others around us with our small but powerful actions.
Source – Charidy
The teenager who saved a man with an SS tattoo
In 1996, a black teenager protected a white man from an angry mob who thought he supported the racist Ku Klux Klan. It was an act of extraordinary courage and kindness – and is still inspiring people today. Read more about this story here.
Speaking about this Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator Leonard Pitts Jr wrote in The Miami Herald, 29 June 1996
“That some in Ann Arbor have been heard grumbling that she should have left the man to his fate, only speaks of how far they have drifted from their own humanity. And of the crying need to get it back.
Keshia’s choice was to affirm what they have lost.
Keshia’s choice was human.
Keshia’s choice was hope.”
Join the World Kindness Hour today
This World Kindness Day, we invite you all to take a pledge and observe an hour to turn off our digital screens in favor of connection, reflection, and volunteer time to help a local community or bring joy to a person(s) including yourself. This group is to discuss and share ideas on making the day more meaningful and connect more members across the globe to be KIND to self, others and the Environment. More information in the Facebook Group.
7 ways to start making kindness the norm
As I said earlier, kindness can be really simple. Here is a list shared by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation of 7 ways to start making kindness the norm in your daily life
1. Send an uplifting text to a friend or family member.
2. Let that guy merge into traffic with a wave and a smile.
3. Include intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight in your daily routine.
4. Go slightly outside of your comfort zone at least once a day to make someone smile.
5. Share a compliment with a co-worker or friend.
6. Reach out to a family member you haven’t spoken to in awhile.
7. Treat someone to a cup of coffee (a friend, stranger, or even yourself).
On World Kindness Day, let’s make kindness the norm – every day!
We really do need more visible acts of kindness these days. All that one sees on social media and in the news is divisiveness and hatred. It seems like we’ve lost our humanity, our moral compass and our sense of decency. Interestingly, the pay it forward movement originated with a Doaist monk, Monk Yun Rou, who paused for just a second before getting into an argument with an obnoxious man behind him in a Florida Starbucks coffee drive through. Instead, he paid for that man’s order, which set the entire pay it forward chain in motion that day. One small act of mindful kindness, yeah?
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We definitely need to bring in more acts of kindness into our every day lives, both at home and outside. For many, it appears to be a challenge, given that the world is veering towards hatred and intolerance, all too easily. Many a times we forget, that a tiny act of kindness begets more. It is sad indeed, that despite all the advancements we seem to be making as humanity, we still need reminders that tell us to be kind to our fellow humans. How difficult is that?
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