“I firmly believe in small gestures: pay for their coffee, hold the door for strangers, over tip, smile or try to be kind even when you don’t feel like it, pay compliments, chase the kid’s runaway ball down the sidewalk and throw it back to him, try to be larger than you are— particularly when it’s difficult. People do notice, people appreciate. I appreciate it when it’s done to (for) me. Small gestures can be an effort, or actually go against our grain (“I’m not a big one for paying compliments…”), but the irony is that almost every time you make them, you feel better about yourself. For a moment life suddenly feels lighter, a bit more Gene Kelly dancing in the rain.” Jonathan Carroll (born 1949);Author
Aren’t these great words to start the week off? I think so and I bet a lot of my readers will think so as well.
If there is anything that I have learned in my 60 years of life on this planet it is that everyone has worth and value and almost everyone appreciates a kind gesture. There are a few I have encountered that have dismissed a kindness but that is rare.
So why wouldn’t we be kind?
The weird thing about this pandemic is that it is not as easy to extend physical type of kindnesses to others. I have noticed that people don’t hold doors open as much. A simple thing but something that I always do. But now we have to be so careful. If you have to be in an elevator you let others go alone. You wait for an empty elevator so that the potential for germs is limited.
Extending kindness during the pandemic is especially important. During the start of the spread in the spring there was a lot of attention given to all of the healthcare and service providers. Rightfully so. But we should not let up. As schools have opened in many places the support for staff there is so important. Care center workers who have seen the pandemic rage through their facilities are bone tired. Cases pop back up and they have to close down visitation and that means upset family members who don’t always think before they speak.
I paid for the people behind me in line at Starbucks last week and told the barista to put what was left in the tip jar. She was incredulous but it felt good to do something fairly anonymously. I know a lot of people do this as I have been the recipient several times. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture. Right now I think any gesture is a good one.
Join me this week and make a small gesture of kindness. Let’s start a Kindness Pandemic. Tell me, what do you plan to do this week? Share it in the comments and remember that each comment made means a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause – In the Pink.
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Leave a commentA little kindness can go a long way. Some of our neighbours have homes and work in other countries, spending their holidays at their property in Spain. This year they have not been able to come to Spain, so we have been keeping an eye on their places, watering plants, removing weeds and ensuring everything is OK. It is something we can do for them.
That’s a wonderful act of kindness!
Kindness is one of those things that I always strive for. I actually just ordered a cute t-shirt that says be kind but the be part is a bee. It’s so adorable. One of the ways I try to be kind is when I’m out for my daily bike ride in the morning and see the landscapers or maintenance workers in the neighborhood and I smile at them, say good morning and thank you if they move out of the way. They always seemed a bit surprised when I first did it but now they recognize me and smile. I think a little thing like that can make a big difference.
I actually had a gentleman hold a door open for me on Saturday. My brain was screaming to stay away from him in the close quarters. But then I realized we were both masked and our passing would be brief and, bonus, then I didn’t need to touch the door handle.
I am sending a lot of cards to encourage people. Today I dropped one in the mail to my son.
What truly saddens me is to see some instances where someone’s kindness is being rebuffed in a nasty way. I just read another blogger’s post this morning where she was actually screamed at because she tried to lend a helping hand to another who was in danger of falling. Fear of this virus is causing people to recoil away from our fellow humans. But we have to keep trying, keep reaching out, keep kindness at the forefront of our actions. Even when it hurts to do so. Every morning when my friend and I go walking we encounter a much older lady walking her dog (or should I say he’s walking her as she can’t go as fast as he would like). As we approach her, we always move away from her off the sidewalk into the street so she doesn’t have to do so and we always call “good morning” to her. At first, she wouldn’t respond at all, but now she knows we will always move aside for her and we always greet her, and she has started saying “good morning” back to us.
My Chuck and I always try to do kindness to others. That a big part of our Lord putting us on earth to serve him.. I truly believe that. No better feeling in the world than doing the Lord’s work..