By Kevin Foster
Whether it be holding the door open for others. Yielding to traffic to allow someone to merge. Checking on a neighbor during the storm. Stopping to try to get the dog that’s wandering on the roadside. Acts of kindness are few and far between these days. What most people don’t realize is, it’s contagious when you perform a good deed or act of kindness for another; it plants the seed and odds are pretty good they’ll pay it forward someway or somehow. For example when you buy coffee in line for the person behind you. Next thing you know everybody in line is paying it forward to the person behind them. If we could create similar things like this in our daily lives, imagine the smiles it would bring and make the world a little bit better place. If you stop and think about it, it’s really the smallest acts of caring or compassionate kindness that makes the biggest difference. I think a lot of us lose sight of that in our daily busy lives. The world could use a little more kindness—especially with the year we just had. Here’s one small act of kindness that really planted a good seed. Two firefighters were waiting in line at a fast-food restaurant when the siren sounded on their fire truck parked outside. As they turned to leave, a couple who had just received their order handed their food to the firefighters. The couple then got back in line to reorder. Doubling down on their selfless act, the manager refused to take their money. — JoAnn Sanderson, What is the meaning of kindness? According to the dictionary: Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. But kindness means so much more. Kindness can mean different things to different people. The meaning is in how YOU choose to show it. Be it through empathy, acceptance, kind gestures, thoughtfulness; the possibilities are entirely up to you. Kindness might look like being helpful or showing empathy. It may mean doing nice things without expecting anything in return. Kindness goes beyond merely being nice. Think about it – would you prefer people describe you as being “kind” or “nice?” There can be a lack of sincerity in just being nice; there is often a perception of doing the minimum. Whereas being kind is doing intentional, voluntary acts of assistance. Not only when it’s easy to be kind, but especially when it’s hard. I’d like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a happy new year. Be that act of kindness you wish to see in the world and if you can’t find the blessing, be one! Twice as Nice
Kindness is a movement. Has someone ever done something kind for you and all you wanted to do after was pay it forward? That’s because kindness is a chain reaction. It’s a wave that keeps rolling, and all it needs is one person to start it. One small kind of act can cause a ripple effect that has the potential to impact an entire community. If we all would focus on being kind, we would be creating a movement of change. You know that famous “be the change you wish the see in the world” quote? That quote isn’t just about change, and it isn’t only about one person being able to change their world. It’s bigger; it’s about a movement that can be started from one person acting with intention.
