Being Kind Leads to More Kindness

I am learning, over and over again, that being kind to others leads to them being kind to other people. Whether they are kind to you, returning your kindness, or being kind to others, kindness begets kindness.

If someone you know is having a bad day, but you don't know how to help them, a simple act of kindness, a smile or a sympathetic hand on the shoulder can be a help. Some people don't like to be a burden to others, and won't ask for help.If you know someone like that who is struggling through their life, connect to them, listen to their story.

Sometimes just being able to articulate your woes can be a relief. A burden shared is a lighter load. You may be able to offer options to help with their problems, a second person can sometimes see things the first person may not have thought of.

Even if you can't solved that person's problems, at least they know they are no longer struggling all on their own. Be the one who helps someone turn the corner.

Why I Love Hugs

On the weekend I went to the monthly poetry reading at the Prince Albert Hotel in Gawler. I went for a number of reasons: because I'm on the organising committee, because I love reading and hearing poetry, because I was announcing the winners of my poetry group's poetry competition.

But the main reason I went was because I knew my friends would be there, and I knew I would get lots of hugs. Receiving and giving hugs would have to be the most emotionally warming thing to do. A hug invites someone into your personal space and lets you into somebody else's personal space.

A hug means you care and trust the other person and a hug means all of that and more without any words being spoken. Hugs are one of my most favourite things in the world (better than chocolate!)

If have a friend who is needing love and care from you and you don't know what to say to help them, give them a hug. A hug says so much without any words needed.

Kindness is a Gift that Gives Back to You

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.--The Dalai Lama

You can always rely on the Dalai Lama for a good quote. And by 'good' I mean an intelligent. thoughtful and thought-provoking quote.

Being compassionate toward others will help you to be happy, whether the or not ones you are being compassionate to realise what you have done for them. Compassion is part of 'The Golden Rule' - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you from Christianity. Other world religions have the same kind of thought.

Compassion just feels good! If you help another person, you will get a warm feeling within which is increased when the person receiving your kindness says thank you.

If you ever feel down in the dumps, try giving kindness to others, you may receive back a hundredfold, and be uplifted!

Creating New Words

Hello,

this is slightly off topic, but I think my new word which I thought of the other day, is one that is very relevant to this blogsite.

My new word is Everlicious - an adjective referring to things that are always yummy, like chocolate, or things that are cute - puppies and kittens, or things from nature that are beautiful like rainbows and flowers.

If you set your mind to it, you should be able to find everlicious things in your life, every day. Finding everlicious things and thinking about them can help you to turn around a rotten day, as you think of the good things you have in your life.

You may like a particular painting, and find it everlicious, or you might think a certain meal is everlicious. If you try, you should be able to find at least two things every day that are everlicious to you. Sunsets, sunrises, rain after a drought, a swim on a hot day, these things can all be everlicious.

Having a mindset focussed on everliciousness will help you to find the good in others, or help you to find ways to help other people. Helping other people, or being kind to them, can be the most everlicious thing you can do!

Kindness in My Inbox

Every week day, my email inbox delivers me another good news story. Sometimes it's a too sweet story that I reject, but most times it's a story that shows me yet again, that humans can be kind and good.

If you are ever feeling cynical and stale, I suggest you visit this website, and others like it to see that we are, overall, a good species, even when some people do bad things. I truly believe this, and I wish I could do more to help those who can't see the benefits they will receive if they started being good and kind to others.

Patting a puppy or kitten will make almost every person smile. Smiling at someone will make them smile, most of the time. Most people will respond positively to something given for free. Your time and your kindness are valuable things you can give for free, and they are gifts that can give you things back - happiness, feelings of self-worth, the knowledge that you have helped someone.

I believe that the best things in life are free, and I hope to go on giving away my time, kindness and smiles throughout my life. It makes everyone involved happy, including me. You can do the same.

What's This All About?

I have suffered a turn around in my life recently, when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I had no idea that what I was suffering from, would be with me in some form for the rest of my life. But it will be, unless the experts can come up with a cure.

Some people might break down and curl up into a ball of misery when given such news, but not me. My diagnosis and the kindness that has been shown to me since I found out about it has made me happy. So many people have been so kind to me, in many ways that my faith in the goodness of my fellow human beings has been restored, over and over.

People have been kind to me, offering to drive me places, lending me a lovely walking stick, giving me advice on practical things. People has said I am brave, strong, amazing and a variety of other things. I don't feel like that, I just feel that I'm carrying on in the best way possible.

My hope is that, with this blog, I can connect with other people and help them to see the goodness in others. I do some volunteer work, and I hope that I can continue to do many things to help others.

On another of my blogs I offered to help other poets with their poems, giving feedback. I have done this on a volunteer basis, and I'm glad to do it.

I hope to continue giving back to people in many different ways, giving kind words, free smiles, and other things that can bring kindness to the lives of others.