One small act of kindness...

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This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by Anonymous.

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April 3, 2013 at 10:34 am #30241

Jodi Chapman
Participant

One small act of kindness can change someone’s day (including yours)!
Let’s share some ways that we can pay it forward in kindness.
It could be that you offer a shoulder for someone to lean on. Or you lend a helping hand when someone reaches out to you. It could be an anonymous donation. Or an impromptu smile. Or holding the door for a stranger.
There are so many ways to share kindness.
Let’s go through our days looking at life through the lens of kindness. Let’s think about how we can pay it forward in kindness. And then let’s take action and do exactly that!
I can’t wait to hear all of the ways you paid it forward in kindness (or plan to pay it forward).
🙂

April 3, 2013 at 11:02 am #30258

Molly McCord
Participant

One of my favorite stories about kindness was at a local Starbucks drive-through. It started with one car offering to pay for the drink order in the car behind them. Then that car paid for the drink order behind them. And so on, and so on. This trend continued for 2 days at the same Starbucks! What a beautiful ripple effect and it touched so many people. Makes me smile big every time I think about it. 🙂

April 3, 2013 at 12:17 pm #30293

Lori Deschene
Keymaster

I love this thread–and I love that Starbucks story! One of my favorite forms of kindness is to give compliments. It’s such an easy thing to do, whether it’s someone you know or a stranger. I compliment people on physical things (clothes, hair, laptop bag, etc) all the time, because you can easily do that even if you’re not already engaged in conversation, and I also like to compliment people when they’re doing a great job at whatever it is they do. I think people don’t often receive genuine compliments on their work/service, and it always lifts their spirits when someone takes the time to appreciate their efforts!

April 3, 2013 at 3:12 pm #30354

Jodi Chapman
Participant

I hadn’t heard about the Starbucks story, and I love it!

Lori – you’re so right that giving compliments is such a great way to spread kindness. I love seeing someone’s face light up when you tell them how beautiful their shirt is or their earrings or their smile. 🙂

April 3, 2013 at 3:33 pm #30362

Sabrina Bolin
Participant

Great topic Jodi!

I have a reminder system in my email that prompts me to “check-in” with people on my contact list.

At first I was just using this for “business connections” but then realized what a great opportunity it was simply to let someone know I was thinking of them!

April 3, 2013 at 3:45 pm #30368

James Gummer
Participant

I love the compliments idea, too!

Lately, My personal practice has been to NOT say what I’m thinking. Most of the tiny things that loved ones do that get on my nerves are just that- tiny things.

There’s no real payoff to starting an argument or causing hurt feelings over something tiny, like the toothpaste cap.

April 3, 2013 at 6:43 pm #30404

Jackie Vecchio
Participant

Wow – I love that Starbucks story! 2 Days! Amazing.

James, I love what you said. I completely agree.

I soo enjoy smiling at strangers, especially when they look like they need it. 🙂 Simple, but brightens my day and theirs, I hope.

April 3, 2013 at 6:47 pm #30406

Maia Duerr
Participant

Great thread!

Another variation on the Starbucks idea was a story I heard about someone in a car at the toll booth on the Bay Bridge (between Oakland and San Francisco) who paid for the toll of the car behind them. I loved that!

When I’m in a grocery store, I try to be extra kind to the cashier. I’ll ask them how they are, and really mean it, or I’ll thank them for doing a good job. I figure they have to deal with so many people all day long and they probably rarely get to have a ‘real’ interaction like that, so I hope it makes a small difference in their day.

April 5, 2013 at 10:46 am #31203

Marilyn Briant-Rockmore
Participant

I agree, I think kindness is sooo important, especially when the recipient is someone who seems to least deserve it. You never know what someone else is going through that makes them grumpy or difficult. One small act of kindness –a smile to a stranger, a bigger tip to a server or a compliment on a job well done can help others see beyond their problems and feel someone cares.

April 19, 2013 at 8:01 pm #34100

Anonymous
Inactive

“Would you like help?”

These are simple words I practice asking daily.

When someone doesn’t want help, he or she can simply reject it.

But when it’s accepted, the appreciation and gratitude is kindly and lovingly shared.
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